A Real Treat

It started with a dream of entrepreneurship that first took hold in 1996 for Brandon Byrd. Fast-forward to today. Byrd operates Goodies Frozen Custard & Treats, a Washington, DC-based food truck that offers customers freshly made frozen custard and baked goods with a 1950s experience. Far from a typical ice cream truck, Byrd's custard truck is time period appropriate from the old-fashioned root beer floats to the Chuck Berry music it blares, down to the soda jerk aprons and Chuck Taylor sneakers that Byrd sports. Byrd launched his custard truck earlier this year. He is in good company given the explosion in the number of mobile eateries. Since frozen desserts are a seasonal business, sales usually plummet in the winter. Byrd says he has been asked to cater events, which he'll use to generate revenue between December and March. He's looking forward to building the business. He has purchased a second truck, which his brother will operate. There is even interest in franchising the brand.