While the 24-foot long, lobster-red truck will not be officially unveiled until July 1, Paul Shenkman, owner of Sam’s Chowder House, has been sending the ChowderMobile to a number of local events in an effort to work out the kinks before it becomes fully operational. Wednesday’s appearance at the American Legion Post was the ChowderMobile’s fourth event.
For Shenkman, the seafood truck is simply a means of bringing people what they want.
 Sam's Chowder House's new truck serves veterans after a day of fishing |
Hoping to drive everywhere from Pleasanton to Cupertino and serve large companies such as Google and Apple “on-site,” Shenkman has big plans for the truck. Moreover, Sam’s is yet to feel the effects of the current economic downturn.
“Our business is booming,” he said. “Our business is 18 percent ahead of last year.”
Expansion has not been limited to the Bay Area either. Shenkman also announced plans for a future ad in New York City’s Times Square. As for a business model, Sam’s owner believes the company is moving in the right direction.
“We think it can be very, very successful, he said. “We’re beginning to see a lot of food trucks around the country … the mobile food craze is beginning to get very popular, but we’re ahead of the curve.”
“The sky’s the limit,” said Director of Operations of the ChowderMobile, Juan Hurtado. “Ultimately our customers will control (our success).”
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