A local food truck business will soon become a restaurant with the help of a $5,000 forgivable loan from the Algona Area Economic Development Corporation (AAEDC).
Sydney Lewis, owner and operator of The Reef food truck, will expand to a full restaurant in the fall. Her gourmet toasts and smoothies will be available from her food truck until then.
Sydney Lewis of The Reef was the first applicant for the new Algona Advantage Program, which was created by AAEDC last fall. The goals of the program are to attract new businesses to the Algona area and promote the expansion of existing businesses that will diversify or enhance the local business economy.
Lewis has operated The Reef, a gourmet toast and smoothie business, from her food truck since 2021. Her current menu is centered around whole foods with gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan, and paleo options available. Two items have risen to the top as customer favorites.
“The most popular bowl is the Acai bowl with strawberries and peanut butter, and the most popular toast is the Avocado Supreme,” Lewis said.
She plans to expand her menu to include diversified options that attract those with specialty diets as well as consumers seeking healthy breakfast and lunch entrees. Adding more seasonal menu options, such as pumpkin smoothies in the fall, soups and sandwiches are also possibilities, along with to-go items.
The location for The Reef restaurant will be on Call Street in a building that formerly served as a dental office. The next several months will be dedicated to reconstruction, with a goal of opening in the new space by September 1. Lewis plans to continue the food truck in addition to the restaurant, as time allows.
While planning for the expansion of her food truck business, Lewis reached out to a variety of local resources. She worked with Shelly Brown at the Tietz Entrepreneurial Center at Iowa Lakes Community College and the Small Business Development Center. Through those contacts she learned about additional small business loans that fit her business needs.
Lewis is pleased to be the first participant in the new Algona Advantage Program and appreciates the boost that the forgivable loan will provide.
“I’m so glad that this program got started. It’s very helpful to businesses like mine,” she said.
Lewis is a 2021 graduate of Algona High School and was named 2023 Entrepreneur of the Year by the Kossuth County Advance.
The Algona Advantage Program offers a forgivable loan of up to $5,000 to qualifying businesses relocating to or expanding within the City of Algona. Funds may be utilized for a variety of expenses, including construction, land/building acquisition, building renovations or repairs, site development, materials, equipment, supplies, marketing, legal fees, website or e-commerce creation, business succession, inventory or other expenses as approved by AAEDC. Funding for the program is limited and applications will be considered on a first come, first serve basis.
To apply or learn more about the Algona Advantage Program and other AAEDC initiatives visit www.discoveralgona.com.
