On Main Street in between the Oliver and Temple buildings and just before the University Student Commons is a sanctuary from the norm of city life.
John Chandler and Kathleen Farley operate J&K Mobile Munchies.
“Got a hunger or a thirst?” Chandler asked over Blackuhuru playing from the speakers fixed by bungee cords in the corners of the plywood structure.
Chandler and Farley offer a relaxed atmosphere that almost makes people forget they’re in the center of a concrete domain.
People wait in line, sitting on stools or on blankets provided by “The Jank Mobile” – a name students gave the food mobile – for completely fresh, natural and homemade ingredient-filled wraps and non-carbonated drinks.
Amanda Burton, a sophomore, said, “This is the only place to get limeade the way I like it.”
Farley said some people come around solely for the conversations. Chandler believes the discussions inevitably turn political or religious, but they’re exciting, nonetheless.
The friendly, relaxed, stress-free environment brings customers back. The vendors have been operating for 10 years. Farley said they have customers that have been regulars for years.
Landon Holbrook, a first-year student, said, “I come here everyday and say make something different, something good, and they do it.”
J&K Mobile Munchies offers food to the three basic consumers: vegans, vegetarians and meat-eaters.
“This is one of the greatest placed to eat because it’s so personal,” said sophomore Kate Farley, Kathleen’s niece, who stopped by in between classes to visit.
“If I weren’t family I’d still be here all the time.”
The vendors also operate like any other restaurant. Chandler and Farley have health inspections, licenses to vend and even take tests to be sure they are aware of safety hazards.
In their 10 years of operating, Chandler said, the vendors have never had a single complaint or claim filed against their operation. The two believe they have a “responsibility to keep their customers alive,” Farley said.
They are interested in more than a sale and explained that friends can be made in the process. It is obvious money is not their only motivation because in 10 years their prices haven’t been raised once – even with the increase in the cost of the ingredients, gas and insurance on the mobile.
Even though they’ve never had a complaint, Farley said, they’ve has their share of parking tickets. She explained that sometimes they even have to ride around the block to adhere to parking restrictions.
The food is as diverse and pure as the evident attitudes of Chandler and Farley.
Although the two have been together for 12 years, they both agreed they do not feel pressure to conform to marriage. They are also self-employed and completely independent of a home store.
Outside of the vending industry, Chandler runs a recording studio, which connects him with music, one of his passions. Both agree that Farley is the motivator of the business. Chandler explains that she’s the one that makes him get out of bed and go to work everyday.
“It’s a great center of the community,” said Preston Duncan, a third-year student and a regular who dropped by to post a piece of independent literature on the bulletin board outside the mobile.