Forward Janesville - TheReport - Second Quarter 2024

8 | FORWARD JANESVILLE year, sales-wise.” Mocha Moment features coffee roasted on site, a large display of baked goods and a diverse breakfast and lunch menu but Dean said Mocha Moment’s drawing card is the experience. Mocha Moment sits in a wooded area, with a beautiful outdoor patio and walking paths within the woods. “(My wife) Kathy and I don’t go out a lot, but when we do, we’re always looking for a place that is a cool venue,” says Dean. “To us, that’s more important than the food and the price. That matters, too, but not as much as a cool environment. I figured there had to be other people like us. And there are. There are a significant number of people that value a nice environment and experience. And providing a really great experience for people is a gift to the community.” One of the more recent additions to Janesville’s dining scene is the growing popularity of food trucks. For companies or events without regular food service, food trucks provide a fantastic opportunity to offer a variety of tastes to customers. Emma De Luna is owner of La Chuchería, a popular local food truck featuring authentic Mexican food and snacks like churros, nachos, cheese fries and Mexican corn. She says the appeal of food trucks is that they add to the variety of the food scene and provide people something they may not be able to find in a sit-down restaurant. “I think people love food trucks because it’s different food,” she says. “I remember when we started, I did noodles with corn, and the people were crazy for it.” During the summer months, you’ll often find La Chuchería out five or six days a week in communities throughout Rock County but she is particularly fond of the business climate and people of Janesville. “There are not a lot of food trucks in Janesville,” De Luna says. “In Beloit, there are a lot of food trucks. I have had a really good experience here.” De Luna speculates that food truck participation may have been lower in Janesville because operating permits were more expensive compared to surrounding communities. Responding to business owners, Janesville recently lowered its fees to be more in line with other cities. Forward Janesville and its Latino Business Council – of which De Luna is a founding member – was part of the effort to collect and provide feedback to the city on its permitting fees. She said connecting with other Latino business owners through the council and with Forward Janesville has been invaluable to her business. “We’ve gotten a lot of customers through Forward Janesville,” says De Luna. “There are a lot of Hispanic people here, not just from Mexico but from other cultures. Janesville is a beautiful place to live, and to have your business. I love Janesville!” Well Known & Community Connected With all of the distinct and varied options available to the Janesville community, it’s clear that the name “Chainsville” is a misrepresentation. But the chains, whether under local or corporate ownership, have a place in Janesville and contribute heavily to the community. “The national chains … bring a lot of people off the interstate,” says Bryan Mallon, local owner-operator of Janesville’s three Culver’s locations. “They come in and they know that there is a hub of food here. I think that helps the community financially.” Mallon’s family could be considered a pioneer when it comes to Culver’s franchising. Their first restaurant in McFarland was Culver’s 13th store, and the 30-year-old Milton Avenue store was No. 24. Culver’s is expected to open store No. 1,000 this summer. Being a local franchise owner is the best of both worlds, according to Mallon. And he certainly appreciates what the completely independent restaurant owners do on a daily basis. “We have the benefit of having a nice big blue sign out there,” says Mallon. “To run an establishment (like the ones downtown), that’s hard. It’s really hard not to have the support of a franchise and have to negotiate a lot of your own things.” There are a significant number of people that value a nice environment and experience. And providing a really great experience for people is a gift to the community. Emma de Luna out and about with La Chuchería food truck Fresh tacos from La Chuchería Mocha Moment is nestled amongst trees on Janesville’s southside, giving it the feeling of a lush oasis