Hornell food truck Biggie’s Burritos founded by former tacher
Adam Eason has always loved food and cooking. Starting with selling backyard barbecue to family and friends, his passion has grown into a new business venture with the creation of Biggie’s Burritos, Bowls, and Tacos food truck in Hornell.
Less than a year ago, Eason was teaching second grade at Wayland-Cohocton Middle School. As a result of his love of cooking, his wife’s support and how the nature of the COVID-19 pandemic shifted schools to an online learning format, he decided to follow a different path.
“I just needed a change,” Eason recalled. “The remote learning really took a toll on me. It wasn’t what I signed up for. I loved being in the classroom and teaching the kids. I loved that aspect and the pandemic stole that from me and everyone else.”
That set off a journey that would end with the founding of Biggie’s Burritos, something that Eason didn’t foresee while he was teaching.
“I thought about doing it, but I never thought this was going to be what I do,” he said. “I never thought I’d get up, cook food and run this business.”
Getting the truck and naming the business
Armed with an idea of a food truck and a love of food, Eason set in motion the process of changing career paths, but he had no idea where to start and no prior knowledge of how to get a truck up and running.
So what he did was self-educate.
“I started, you know, just watching YouTube videos on how to get things started,” Eason said. “Just joining the right groups on Facebook to kind of get the right information.”
He bought a trailer in February 2021 and after the online research he transformed the trailer into a working food truck by June.
Eason even documented the whole process on TikTok.
Following a summer break, Eason’s truck was ready for the road. He just needed something to sell.
Eason landed on tacos and burritos. The decision was based on the need for that type of food in the area.
“Initially we thought about doing a specialty burrito truck where we’d have garbage plate burritos and barbecue burritos,” he recalled. “But I thought you could get barbecue anywhere. You can’t really get this food in the area besides fast food.”
Customers can customize the burrito any way they want. Eason wanted something that could meet the needs of all of his customers.
“With this you can go as healthy or as greasy and nasty with these burritos as you want,” Eason said. “If you’re trying to eat good, you can. You can get a bowl and get all the healthy stuff you want.”
Eason has highlighted some specialty burritos that he’s made in the past, such as a barbecue burrito, a spaghetti burrito and a Thanksgiving burrito.
“I feel like that kind of helps me showcase everything else that I can do other than just regular burritos,” Eason said.
The name Biggie’s Burrito is synonymous with what you’re going to get when you visit the food truck — a big burrito. Biggie was also a nickname Eason had growing up, so it seemed like the perfect fit.
Reception and going forward
Eason wasn’t even planning on having a grand opening this year. He planned on doing a couple of local stops and calling it a season before the snow hit.
However, his business has exploded. He has over 1,300 likes on his Facebook page since Sept. 8.
“Everybody just says the food’s great,” Eason said. “They’re happy to have something different in the area.”
Eason said the schedule of where the truck is going to be is pinned on his Facebook page.
Eason said he hopes he will be operating until the end of the year with an April-January season schedule starting next year. From January-March he’ll be available for special events.
If you want to catch him, the truck is at Broadway Mall in Hornell every Thursday.
Next season, Eason plans to have online ordering for customers up and running on his website.
Follow Tom Passmore on Twitter @TheLeaderPass. To get unlimited access to the latest news, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.
