Great Faces: Food truck owners memorializing family through food

RAPID CITY, S.D. (KOTA) – South Dakota is known for its great faces and great places. Each week, KOTA Territory News features a great face in the community.

This week, we highlight food truck owners using food to share a mother and grandmother’s love.

If you drive around Rapid City, especially around Founder’s Park, you are almost guaranteed to see a food truck or two. One of them might be Daisy’s Doolittle Diner.

The mobile diner is in its fifth month of operation and is owned by a mother and daughter working to memorialize a special person in their lives.

“So, my mom, her grandma, always wanted a diner named after her and when she passed away that’s when we decided that that’s what we would do,” said Teresa Johnson, co-owner of Daisy’s Doolittle Diner.

Johnson added her mother, Daisy, worked in a diner in Maryland, where she was from. She explained diners were always her go to, which is what inspired the cuisine of the truck.

You can enjoy burgers, omelets, hot cakes and more at Daisy’s.

Johnson’s daughter and co-owner of Daisy’s Doolittle Diner, Mellissa Martinez, said she never thought she would own a food truck.

“I would have to say no, maybe a more stable brick and mortar, but the food truck has been such a fun experience so I’m glad we did that,” Martinez said.

Both Martinez and Johnson said their favorite part of owning the truck is getting to spend time with each other keeping their mother and grandmother’s memory alive.

“She was such a bright star, so her presence in any room could cut through tension or just warm your heart. She was compassionate and empathetic and loved everyone,” Martinez said.

“My mother never knew a stranger,” Johnson said. “It makes me very proud to be able to put her picture on our Facebook. She never let anyone go hungry, never ever.”

Martinez said she and Johnson try to emulate her grandmother through their business.

“We try to be super friendly and upbeat and loving when you come. So, every plate you get is made with love,” Martinez said.

Looking to the future, Johnson said she would love to branch outside of the Rapid City food truck scene and possibly find a brick and mortar to continue sharing her mother’s legacy.

You can stay up to date on where Johnson and Martinez are serving up smiles by checking out Daisy’s Doolittle Diner’s Facebook page.

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