On a recent, sunny June afternoon, tables of vendors lined a grassy park at the Richmond Farmers Market, selling local produce, artisanal crafts and homemade food.
Among them: Glory Burger, a Richmond-based food truck that dishes homemade burgers and fries at weekly farmers markets and special events around Chittenden County.
But unlike most food trucks, Glory Burger is managed and operated entirely by three teenagers.
Ryan O’Neil, Shea Smith and Adam Weinstein, all 17 years old, will be seniors at Mount Mansfield Union High School this fall. O’Neil and Weinstein are from Richmond, while Smith hails from Huntington.
The three friends all have prior experience in the food industry. Smith and Weinstein worked at the now-closed Kitchen Table Bistro, and O’Neil and Smith work at Stone Corral Brewery in Richmond. The trio said they learned most of their cooking skills from their parents and from working in their kitchens at home.
They started their food truck business last summer, using the Richmond Farmers Market as their home base.
“It was just a tent and a few fold-up tables,” Weinstein said of last year’s setup. “We started with no money, and we just kind of built it from the ground up.”
Glory Burger is now a fully equipped restaurant on wheels. While not technically a truck, the kitchen can be hitched to one and towed wherever necessary. It’s complete with running water and ample cooking space.
The new portable kitchen has made them more organized and efficient, Weinstein said.
In Glory Burger’s early days, most of the customers were friends from school, Weinstein said. This summer, they’re cooking up food for a much wider customer base.
“Being here at the farmers market, you develop people who just come back,” O’Neil said. “And once you develop that customer base, you can start to expand it.”
During a recent interview at Glory Burger, the public’s enthusiasm for the food was evident. A passerby yelled, “Your food is awesome!” O’Neil, Smith and Weinstein responded with a “thanks” and a wave.
Glory Burger’s menu consists of four different burgers and three variations of fries, advertised on colorful chalkboard menus. They use local Vermont beef and highlight the farm of origin on their menu.
Last summer, making a profit was not a big priority, according to the trio. This year, they’re making enough to sustain the operation.
“Initially, we were really doing it for the fun of cooking, which was still part of the reason why we do it,” Smith said. “Not saying that our profit is something insane, but now we’re at a point where we can make enough money to make it really worth it.”
The teens also acknowledged that their parents’ support has a lot to do with their success. The parents helped promote the business when it was just getting off the ground, Smith said.
The truck’s name was partially inspired by a family recipe. Smith said his mom makes a meal she calls the “Glory Bowl,” and when the three friends were batting around names for their business, “glory” seemed to stick. “It kinda just grew on us,” Weinstein said.
Earlier this month, the Glory Burger team found out that they are finalists for three Seven Daysies awards, presented by the Burlington-based weekly, Seven Days: Best Food Truck, Best Burger (inside Chittenden County) and Best French Fries.
Since the teens have only one more year of high school, the question looms as to what they will do with the truck come graduation.
“That’s a great question,” Smith said.
“We’ve put a lot of time into it and a lot of love,” Weinstein said.
“We don’t want it to sit,” Smith said.
They don’t see themselves staying in the food industry after high school but hope to open their own businesses later in life. Nevertheless, they are thankful for the opportunity Glory Burger has provided them so far.
“This is a great way to learn how to start a business and it’s just fun,” Smith said.
O’Neil said the three friends have learned a key lesson: “There’s no value in waiting to do something we want to do if we can just do it now.”