CORRECTIONVILLE, Iowa — East of Sioux City off of Highway 20 sits the town of Correctionville. It's here where one of Siouxland's most popular food trucks calls home. Heartland Coffee and Nosh fired up their espresso machine in 2017 and have grown into an area favorite. They had big plans for 2020 and then COVID-19 hit. When we started, we didn't know what was going to happen. We had events that just kept canceling, one by one. Like many small businesses in Siouxland, they weren't sure what the season would hold. We did open in April though and we were hit with a mass of people that were ready to come out of their homes and try something different," said owner Stacy Orndorff. The Coffee and Nosh team adjusted their plans, ramped up mobile ordering and ready to go drinks to make the 2020 season the best it could be. "18% of our business was online sales but we really pushed that and people really responded," Orndorff said. "Having all of the take-out elements, where before we didn't really have to have things covered or wrapped, and now we did and then having our system of people order from the window but also ordering online and how to juggle all of that and then having the delivery piece in." Siouxlanders embraced the changes, waiting in socially distanced lines and supported this family-run business all summer long. "They really came out to support us, especially in the beginning. They were eager to help any way they could," Orndorff said, recalling long lines and orders at the truck. "We got a lot of empathy and compassion from people and I feel like our sales went up just because people recognized the importance of supporting small businesses." And while cold weather cut their season a bit short, they have a few more tricks up their sleeves. 'We have our ready to drink beverages that we are selling right now, our lavender lemonades, our lattes, we are putting them in bottles. We are going to start serving our full menu on Saturdays out of our headquarters in Correctionville." They also have big plans for the future "Well Coffee and Nosh, we are going to get another truck. I don't know when it will be done and ready," she said. A 2nd food truck would allow them to expand to other communities, and make more stops at the popular Farmer's Market in Sioux City. "In Correctionville, we bought a building in our downtown and we are fixing up a kitchen there and we will be moving our headquarters there because right now our headquarters is actually part of our home. We will have a kitchen that we will be able to use for our stuff and also be able to rent out so other people can share that space." After a year full of changes and adjustments, the family behind Heartland Coffee and Nosh is grateful for the family they've made all across Siouxland. And entrepreneurship runs in the family, Stacy's daughter has started her own clothing businesses, which you can find here, and her cousin Sarah, who is a familiar face in the truck, launched her own food business this week called Wanderer Eats, and you can see her full menu and how to order here. SEE THE VIDEO:
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