Today we’d like to introduce you to April Williams
Hi April, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My husband, Dustin, and I grew up in Central Florida and were living in the Pacific Northwest, teaching high school math and science, respectively. While traveling, we would frequent and fell in love with the concept of a food truck park, a neighborhood business model most commonly found in the suburbs of Portland. These would often be a perfect place for friends and families to come together, with a variety of cuisines to eat and drink what they truly wanted.
We wrote a business plan, pitched it to the City of Orlando, and, after quite some convincing, we were approved. We packed up our infant and embarked on this new adventure. We opened A La Cart in November of 2018 in the Milk District neighborhood, and just recently opened a second location last May in the SoDo neighborhood. We created A La Cart to be an incubator for small businesses, while also pursuing our passion for craft beer, and a place for locals to build a sense of community.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
There have been many challenges over the years. Initially, there was no clear pathway for our business model, as many municipality codes prevented food trucks to permanently vend at a single location. As a new and atypical business to the Central Florida area, we had to work diligently to find, market to, and educate our customers. And, as a young business, we had to adapt to the ever-changing restrictions created during the COVID pandemic.
Like most restaurants and bars, we are continually having to navigate advertising strategies and the increases in product costs. We also are learning how to grow our business and maintain the highest level customer experience that we can create.
As you know, we’re big fans of A La Cart. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
A La Cart is a food truck park, which is an indoor/outdoor communal space that hosts multiple food vendors and a bar specializing in craft beer. We prioritize our community by hosting events that support many local organizations. What sets A La Cart apart from other restaurants is that we have a variety of cuisine options in a relaxed, communal dining atmosphere. Every visit to an A La Cart is an adventure where our customers can choose from a plethora of food and drink options.
We are most proud of the A La Cart brand’s ability to appeal to everyone: young and old, any race, religion or gender. We’ve hosted many celebrations: first birthdays, weddings, retirements…it is an honor that our customers have chosen to celebrate their most cherished life events with us.
What was your favorite childhood memory?
Many of my favorite childhood memories involve spending time with my friends and family. Some of my fondest moments include eating and drinking at unique and unforgettable places, oftentimes celebrating a milestone or achievement….my high school sports banquet, my best friend’s 18th birthday, my family’s campfire sessions. The commonality in each of these memorable experiences is the act of coming together and enjoying the company of those who I care about. This was an integral aspect to the design of A La Cart.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.alacartorlando.com
- Instagram: @alacartmilk, @alacartsodo
- Facebook: @alacartorlando
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/%C3%A0-la-cart-orlando
Image Credits
Ian Roth
Sebastian Castaneda
Gustavo Vargas
