Popular Bellingham food bus gets brotherly treatment, plus 3 new restaurants
A popular food bus has a new name and location, but the menu will have a familiar ring to it.
Thad Johnson and his brother, Craig, recently purchased Mr. Frank’s Bus from Lisa Campbell. The bus is now known as Brothers Bus Bistro and has moved over to Gruff Brewing, near the Depot Market Square in downtown Bellingham.
As part of the sale agreement the Johnsons received the menu of Mr. Frank’s Bus and training on preparing the meals, Thad Johnson said in an email. Menu items include grilled and cold sandwiches, gourmet burgers and chicken wings that have Mr. Frank’s seasoning.
The only modification to the menu at this point is spicing up the hot wings a bit and making sure wings and veggie burgers are a regular staple of the menu, Thad Johnson said.
Buying and reopening a business in the middle of the coronavirus pandemic can present some challenges, but overall it went smoothly, Thad Johnson said. Getting supplies in place took more work and sometimes at a greater expense and things like signing papers at the bank required an appointment. However, things like the permitting process were done with no issues.
“We had some reservations about jumping in at this time with such an uncertain future, but we felt the food truck fit in pretty well as an opportunity for folks to go out and pick up some food while mostly remaining at home,” Johnson said. “We were both looking for something different, and we knew we wanted do something together that was interactive in the community.”
Previously Craig Johnson owned the construction firm TC Legend Homes in Bellingham before selling it to his business partner. Thad Johnson was in the Navy for 22 years before retiring from the service in 2018.
Brothers Bus Bistro is currently at Gruff Brewing on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday for lunch and dinner, but could be at other locations on other days of the week. More information and updates can be found on its website.
Other tidbits
▪ While the coronavirus pandemic has put a monkey wrench in business openings, some are making progress. A state liquor license application was submitted for Juxt Bar, which is going into the former Teriyaki Bar space at 119 W. Holly St. In a post on its recently completed Kickstarter page, co-founder Randy Young said they are making progress in remodeling the space and are aiming for a summer opening, depending on what happens with the pandemic restrictions. For updates, check out the company’s Instagram page.
▪ Quicksilver Photo Lab in downtown Bellingham has started a GoFundMe event to help raise money during this pandemic. The company’s minilab printer broke down, which is a crucial piece of equipment, according to Owner Cate Reed. The company has had trouble securing business funding for it, and so it is asking the community for help.
▪ While waiting out the pandemic, Coffee Junction Owner Heather Lange was able to remodel the interior of the cafe. The coffee shop, which is near the Bellingham Cruise Terminal in Fairhaven, is currently serving customers to-go items.
▪ It’s probably not the soft opening that they had planned for a few months ago, but Storia Cucina started a to-go menu on Wednesday, May 13. The Italian restaurant in downtown Bellingham (near the Black Drop Coffeehouse and Thousand Acre Cider House) has been offering do-it-yourself pasta kit, pizza and a variety of other dishes. Hours of operation are noon-9 p.m. Wednesday-Sunday.
▪ Semiahmoo Resort announced a new and improved Seaview Cafe & General Store inside the resort. Currently it is offering grab-and-go breakfast and lunch, as well as general products heading out to the beach. Hours are 7 a.m-4 p.m. daily.
This story was originally published May 24, 2020 at 5:00 AM.
