LAJOSE — Focused on serving small batches of high-quality barbecue, Larry’s Barbeque food truck has become a well-known tobacco staple throughout central Pennsylvania.
Based in LaJose, it all started for Larry and Karen Garner when in 2012 he built a smokehouse from scratch to use at his daughter, Victoria’s, graduation party. The Garners then began cooking and selling food for their Clearfield County 4H “Hot Shots” club, eventually focusing on a love of smoking pork.
“We were fortunate to have six years before we started our business,” he said. “People got to know us.”
Fast forward to 2018, when the Garners said they built their own trailer from a bare frame. Larry redesigned the original smoker he started with and placed it in the back of the trailer.
He also uses wood from his own orchard, according to the Larry’s Barbeque website, such as apple and pear wood. Even today the original smokehouse is still in use, with of course some improvements.
The menu at Larry’s Barbeque has become known for its artisan barbecue items, he said, like its beef and pork sandwiches, wraps and salads, fries, nachos, cheesesteaks and hot sausages. .
By preparing food in smaller batches, each customer gets the best flavor and quality from each item.
What started as a hobby for Larry, a former longtime truck driver, became his full-time dream after he was laid off in 2020 due to the pandemic and decided not to return to that job. It was especially during the pandemic, when restaurants were closed, that food trucks really gained popularity.
The Garners take the food truck around central Pennsylvania to events such as fairs/festivals in several counties. Additionally, Larry’s Barbeque hosts lunches at area businesses and factories, especially in the off-season. They are also known for hosting personal occasions like birthday and graduation parties etc.
Some events on the agenda this summer have been the Riverfront Festival in Clearfield, Heritage Days in Philipsburg, and the McKean and Clearfield County Fairs, to name a few.
In honor of their annual anniversary in June, the Garners were very excited to unveil their new logo/banner, along with a fresh coat of red paint, for the Larry’s Barbeque truck in a Greater DuBois Chamber of Commerce mixer on June 12.
The Garners like to say, “We don’t want customers, we want friends,” emphasizing that they enjoy meeting people and traveling. In addition to high-quality menu items that attract lines in several communities, the goal is also to focus on friendly customer service.
Additionally, wait times for Larry’s Barbeque menu items are not long. The line outside the trailer may be, but the system the couple put in place speeds up the process, the Garners said. A well-oiled machine, Karen takes orders at the window while Larry prepares the products.
Uniquely in the food truck industry, they cook using an air fryer, ultimately producing less fat. In addition to healthier menu items like salads and wraps, Larry’s Barbeque customers can also enjoy gluten-free and vegan options. It is also important for them to keep a clean trailer.
What he calls “small batch barbecue” includes cooking in sauce.
“You can get our meat without sauce,” he said. “You should be able to taste the meat (itself).”
Larry noted that he doesn’t do “competition barbecue”, he does “eat barbecue”.
He is also a self-taught cook, having watched many YouTube videos over the years to teach himself tips and tricks.
They also aim to support the community that supports them, contributing to charitable events when they can.
Passion for the food truck business runs in the family, as Garner’s daughter, Victoria Wisor, and her husband, Andrew, of DuBois, own and operate a Japanese/Korean street food truck called Ronin No Yatai.
Just as he did with his own trailer, Larry transformed the truck for his business and offered advice and support. Both companies help promote each other.
“It was a joy to put this together for them – to give them a start and an opportunity,” he said.
It’s been an enjoyable experience for the Garners to embark on a journey as a couple, married for almost 34 years, and as a family, attending events alongside each other.
Larry’s Barbeque trailer stands out among the crowd, with its bright red and yellow colors. Its new logo features a design of the original smoker built by Larry. The new logo, banners and signs were created by the Wisors.
Karen, who is passionate about arts and crafts, highlighted that she enjoys creating products such as t-shirts etc. using the new logo.
Within the food truck community, there’s also always the opportunity to learn, Larry said, because it’s a 24/7 job that they’re always thinking about, sparking new ideas.
“No matter how long you’ve been in this business, there are always new things to learn,” he said. “We have to keep things creative.”
They were sure to see how grateful they are for all the regular customers, the new faces they have met and the community support received over the years.
“We’re lucky and we just want to keep doing it,” Larry said.
For more information, follow Larry’s Barbeque on Facebook at www.facebook.com/larrysbbqtruck and visit the website at www.larrysbbqtruck.com.
