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Back In The Game

Jan. 9, 2018, was a pretty good day for Missouri Tigers fans. It was the day that Drew Lock — native son, QB1, holder of the school and Southeastern Conference (SEC) records for single-season touchdown passes — decided the NFL could wait. He wanted to come back for his senior season in Columbia. This news, […]

Drew Lock Profile

In the visiting locker room of Reynolds Razorback Stadium, after nearly four hours of battle on the field, Lock found a moment of peace with Beckner and Coach Barry Odom. All three had done their parts to secure a 48-45 Missouri win over Arkansas, the Tigers’ third in the past four years over their rivals. […]

Jontay Porter Profile

Last summer, Jontay Porter was preparing for his senior year of high school. His family had moved back to Columbia from Seattle after the additions of his father, Michael, to Martin’s assistant coaching staff and his brother, Michael Jr., to the Tigers’ roster. Jontay faced a choice: maintain course and play his senior year of […]

Parental Power Over Predators

A parent’s attention is the primary deciding factor in whether a child will be safe online.

Steak Savvy

Do you know your rib-eyes from your T-bones? Take our quiz to see how much of a steak connoisseur you are.      

Big Daddy’s BBQ

Most  popular  item:  Pulled  Pork  Nachos  Favorite  event:  Roots  N  Blues  N  BBQ     Fontella  Henry,  owner  of  Big  Daddy’s  BBQ,  started  Big  Daddy’s  BBQ  food  truck  six  years  ago  after  her  retirement.  “We  come  from  a  family  of  barbecuers  —  my  uncle  had  a  barbecue  restaurant  for  30  years  in  St.  Louis,”  Henry  […]

Eats & Treats

Most  popular  item:  Chocolate  Chip  Cookie  Dough  Central  Dairy  ice  cream   Favorite  events:  Art  in  the  Park  and  The  Hartsburg  Pumpkin  Festival Jason  Holbrook, owner of Eats and Treats, started  his  food  truck  from  his  brick-and-mortar  shop  in  Ashland. His  offerings  revolve  around  ice  cream  or  fair  food,  so  he  tries  to  utilize  items  […]

Kona Ice CoMo

Most popular item: Blue Raspberry Favorite events: The Heritage Festival and MU football games Shaved ice wasn’t something Kona Ice Como co-owner Cathy Cook had tried before she became a franchise owner. She and her husband started the business when he ran across a marketing campaign for Kona Ice. “He looked at it for a […]

Jamaican Jerk Hut

Most  popular  item:  Jerk  Chicken     Favorite  location:  Macadoodles     Rex  Scott  didn’t  plan  on  starting  a  food  truck  business.   “We  were  in  college  in  Jefferson  City  and  came  up  with  the  idea  to  sell  Jamaican  food,  because  there  isn’t  any  around  here,”  says  Scott,  now  the  co-owner  of  Jamaican  Jerk  Hut.  […]

Manzo’s Wood-Fired Pizza

Most popular item: Voodoo Chicken Pizza Favorite event: The Central Missouri Renaissance Fair The idea for Manzo’s Pizza food trailer came from a brainstorming session with a business partner, says Aaron Saeler, co-owner of Manzo’s Pizza. “We never meant to do it; we just did it,” Saeler says. Saeler likes old world, Napoli style pizza […]

Lilly’s Cantina

Most popular item: Garbage Burrito Favorite location: The Veterans Hospital George Nickols, the owner of Lilly’s Cantina, started his food truck because of his love for culinary arts and serving people. He named it after his daughter Lilly, and has had the truck for four years now. “The timing was right,” Nickols says. The biggest […]

Grill-A-Brothers

Most  popular  item:  The  Tony  Montana   Favorite  location:  Logboat  Brewery Grill-A-Brothers  grew  out  of  creative  passion  and  desire  to  have  fun.  “We  had  done  some  barbecue  competitions  before  and  wanted  to  create  our  own  business  with  our  own  ideas  and  motivations,”  says  Daniel  Thorne,  owner  of  Grill-A-Brothers.   Low  initial  start-up  costs  and  being  […]

BiscuitHeader

Ozark Mountain Biscuit Company

Most popular item: Fried Chicken Sandwich Favorite events: Roots N Blues N BBQ and the Pedaler’s Jamboree Bryan  Maness,  owner  of  Ozark  Mountain  Biscuit  Co.,  was  drawn  to  food  truck  culture  and  felt  it  would  benefit  the  community.    “It’s  so  nice  to  interact  with  every  person  and  see  them  enjoy  the  food  while  you’re  […]

VooDoo Sno

Most popular item: Witch Doctor Favorite event: Anything at Veterans United A southside food trailer, Voodoo Sno is a break off from Chris Bailey’s other business, Parkside Skate Shop on Columbia’s north side. The sno-balls he sells bring a little bit of New Orleans to Columbia. Bailey’s skate shop business partner’s brother lives in Louisiana […]

American Shoe

About 100 years ago, an immigrant from Lebanon made his way from Ellis Island to Jefferson City. He knew very little English, but that didn’t stop him from starting a shoe repair business that eventually became the American Shoe Store. If he had been able to see into the future, he would never have believed […]

L.C. Betz

Diamonds may be forever, but the same can’t be said for the jewelry shops that sell them. Robert Flynn, general manager of L.C. Betz Associates, has more realistic goals. He’s ensuring that a Columbia legacy business remains a prominent part of the community. And he’s working to maintain its reputation as a trusted jeweler. “We’re […]

Booches

Parents returning to Columbia for a football game or to drop their college students off for the semester might stop by Booches on 9th Street for the nostalgia. The place oozes with it. But it’s not the nostalgia that brings in the students and other regulars. They come here for burgers, beer and good times. […]

Heather Brown

– PROMOTIONAL CONTENT –  Heather Brown began her military career being sworn into service by her mother, an active duty captain in the United States Army Reserve. Through her eight years, Brown worked as a Civil Affairs Specialist, taking on numerous responsibilities as she aimed to win the hearts and minds of foreign nationals. At […]

Robert Ross

– PROMOTIONAL CONTENT – Robert Ross retired after serving 20 years in the U.S. Marine Corps. He spent three of those years in the infantry, and the remaining 17 in public affairs. He was stationed both in the U.S. and in Japan. During his service, Ross was awarded numerous medals: the Meritorius Service medal, Navy […]

Devara Brock

– PROMOTIONAL CONTENT –   Devara Brock served her country for many years in the Army, repairing top secret communication equipment. She says the highlight of her military career was being deployed to Saudi Arabia. Brock enjoys learning about other cultures and their traditions, and says that the best place she had the opportunity to […]