Today we’d like to introduce you to Brad and Lindsey Belanger. Them and their team share their story with us below:
Based out of Anoka, MN aka “The Halloween Capitol of the World”…Brad and Lindsey are homegrown Minnesotans who have thrown aside all of the “what if’s” & escaped corporate Americas grasp in order to follow their dreams and open their own business. Brad’s interests in cooking, Norse lore and tradition and Lindsey’s love of mother nature, herbs and gardening were the inspiration for Herban Wolf Deli, a full-service deli on wheels currently licensed and supporting the North Metro.
The truck began in mid-2018 and after great success our first year, we opened a brick and mortar location later in 2019, only to be shut down due to the pandemic a few months later. We stayed busy with curbside service but by the time our lease was up, we needed more space with more seating if we were going to continue a home base location. So, with that, we decided to close up that shop and start slowly looking for a new, bigger space while continuing truck operations in the meantime. As we are a cook-to-order, smaller boutique style truck, we currently only work local breweries and smaller events. Our followers (the Wolf Pack) have been amazing to us and we look forward to another truck season starting April 1st, 2022!
Our menu is made up of bold, handmade flavors, local herbaceous breads and ingredients, smoky meats, cheeses and crisp, fresh vegetables. Brad is the creator of all things delicious, including handmaking all sauces and recipes himself. Lindsey handles the day to day paperwork, permitting and social media. We also love to partner with other local companies such as Diamond City Bread (Elk River), T-Rex Cookie (Eagan) and Northern Soda (Arden Hills).
Most importantly, we love what we do.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Naturally, with most food services, the supply chain and product costs have been a killer. Additionally, many people tend to think that owning a food truck is fun and not too much work…..however, while we DO have a blast, there are many hours that go into prep, running around for product that our suppliers do not have and truck maintenance. It’s not for the faint of heart!
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Brad has history in radio, and most recently before owning the truck, managed Avant Garden Coffee Shop on Main Street Anoka. He took pride in creating specials that would sell out quickly, so when the time came to start a business, he had ample recipe options floating around in his brain.
Lindsey comes from the corporate banking and mortgage world, but after roughly 20+ years of the rat race, decided to put her physical and mental health first.
Together, they worked to build their truck with local great, Chameleon Concessions and the rest is history!
We love surprises, fun facts and unexpected stories. Is there something you can share that might surprise us?
We stay small on purpose. We’ve always wanted to have a smaller, boutique style deli where there was demand, but we don’t have waste. When we sell out, we sell out! We also stick close to home to ensure we can be home with our kids when possible, so that means no long road trips and no massive festivals where we would certainly have slower turn times and run out too quickly. We know our limitations, but that’s how we like it….for now!
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: www.herbanwolfdeli.com
- Instagram: @herbanwolfdeli
- Facebook: @herbanwolfdeli
