Two years ago this month, our Someone 2 Know had his food truck stolen in Reno. And as we reported at the time, the truck was recovered but essentially ruined. Individual donors stepped up to help re-build Stephon's Mobile Bistro.
And now, as the movement to support black-owned businesses continues to grow, the food truck is bouncing back after the pandemic shutdowns.
Meet Stephon Van Dyke;
We found the food truck parked on East 4th St in Reno on a Friday evening, with customers already lined up for arguably, the most popular item on the menu.
"This is a Woody Burger,” Stephon showed us a cheesy-meaty delight, “A double bacon burger with a hot link on top”.
"It's so good!,” exclaims one of the regulars. She says the fries are incredible, too.
The food is nearly irresistible.
"Philly cheese steak sandwiches, BBQ chicken,” Stephon regales us with e menu options “On occasion I'll do fried chicken dinners, we do a pork chop dinner with fried cabbage"
And if comfort food doesn't get your attention, Stephon's gregarious personality will;
"Hot stuff coming through, hot stuff."
Often hand-delivering food to breweries and wineries near the parked truck, Van Dyke immediately endears himself to anyone in ear shot.
"Hot stuff coming through and I ain't talking about the food, either,” Stephon repeats his famous line for us, smiling shyly.
Stephon's Mobile Bistro has been feeding northern Nevadans and spreading cheer for 14 years.
"We are in business to be of service to you and everybody is somebody and we just enjoy what we do."
The other half of the "we" is Stephon’s wife, Marcia, who is happy to work the grill and stay away from the TV cameras.
"She supports me 100 percent."
That love and support, and his faith, says Stephon, are what got him through the recent mandatory shutdown, which dealt a 95% loss in business for the food truck.
"It was,” Stephon pauses to take a deep breath, “Horrible. But, I'm blessed to be able to come through it. Like you say, my good days out-weigh my bad days."
That same grace and optimism is evident when Stephon speaks about the Black Lives Matter movement.
"It's about time, it's necessary, and I think a lot of people are getting aboard - a change is coming"
Stephon says he hasn't experienced any overt racism here in Reno, and when it comes to violence toward black people and racial inequality, he has this to say.
"Stop, recognize, and move forward in a positive way."
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If you would like to check out Stephon's Mobile Bistro - you can often find the food truck near the breweries and wineries on east 4th street in Reno (the homemade sweet potato chips are mouthwatering – fried and salted to crunchy perfection).
To support black owned businesses in our region, see below.
BLACK OWNED BUSINESS
IN RENO/SPARKS
(An evolving list)
Stephon’s Mobile Bistro 775-219-9954
Talbot Plastic Surgery Center
Lighthouse Coffee
The Wright Touch, Massage Therapy
Unbeweavable Beauty Supply
Ole Bridge Pub
The Brewer’s Cabinet
Kai Masterstylist
Custom Tees Unlimited
Custom Tingz
Yard VYBZ Jamaican Grill
NailedByKy, Nail Technicians
ReDirect Athletics
Shim’s Surplus Supplies
Linzie Kenpo Karate
Tabu’s of Reno barber Lounge
R.W. Training Facility
Sugar Rush, Online Bakery http://sugarrushco.com/
Red Chair
The Z Bar (Midtown)
Zagol Ethiopian Restaurant
M & M’s Southern Café
WAYS TO INFORM YOURSELF, JOIN OR PARTICIPATE
Northern Nevada Black Cultural Awareness Society https://www.facebook.com/NNBCASRenoNV/?hc_location=ufi
Reno/Sparks NAACP - https://www.renosparksnaacp.org/
NAACP - https://www.naacp.org/
Our Story, Inc - https://ourstoryinc.com/ “Our mission is to share, seek out, collect, preserve and exhibit the contributions, heritage, culture, and accomplishments of people who have not been well represented in Northern Nevada’s public image”
Black Lives Matter https://blacklivesmatter.org/
Black Visions Collective https://www.blackvisionsmn.org/
