Bayou Eats | Dreams on Wheels

ARTICLE BY VANELIS RIVERA
AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY KELLY MOORE CLARK

Joey and Kylee Lopez bring flavor and fellowship to Ruston with North Village Food Park, a vibrant hub for local eats, family fun, and small business dreams.

Food truck parks are essentially communal hubs that have become popular gathering places for those who enjoy outdoor dining and food variety. More than just a stop-and-grab spot, they have evolved into lively gathering spaces inviting locals and visitors to experience fellowship and bonding, all while exploring a plethora of diverse culinary experiences. Ruston residents Joseph Lopez and his wife, Kylee Malone Lopez, understood the fundamental elements of such atmospheres when conceptualizing what has become Ruston’s second food truck park, North Village Food Park. Nestled in the verdant expanse of the thriving North Village neighborhood in Ruston, this carefully curated space is perfect for food enthusiasts seeking the perks of tasty, culinary delights served in a spacious, family-friendly locale.

Joey, a Haughton native, has been working in restaurants since he was sixteen years old. Starting out as a busboy, he worked his way to the back of the house, paying his dues as a dishwasher, then leveling up to cook. By the time he graduated from high school, he had accumulated an impressive restaurant resume, having gained work experience in about ten restaurants. Nevertheless, his career aspirations were set elsewhere, and in 2018, he enrolled in Louisiana Tech University to pursue a degree in biomedical engineering. While tackling the rigorous curriculum, he decided to take on a part-time job at the former health-conscious franchise, Teriyaki Grill owned and operated by Kay Malone. “That’s where I really learned how to cook, how to prep, really the foundations of how to run my business,” informs Joey. One of the first, crucial culinary skills he learned at Teriyaki Grill was the meticulous work of preparing chicken, from effective methods of thawing, ensuring even cooking, to the correct way of cutting. “That’s not a very fun part of the job, but it’s one of the hardest parts, too. So if you get good at it, your value goes up,” he says. His responsibilities began to grow, taking charge of prepping meat and vegetables, making dishes, and serving food. “Literally, everything.” This well-rounded experience allowed him to also note the business elements at play in a successful restaurant, which mostly revolved around the manner in which you engage with people. He recalls the importance of partaking in conversation, taking an interest in customer experience, and ultimately building relationships. Beyond building business acumen, Teriyaki Grill was also the place where Joey met his future wife, Kylee, the daughter of Kay and Karl Malone. When the restaurant shut down during the COVID-19 pandemic, the couple continued their courtship, and their relationship flourished. Finally, in 2023, they tied the knot. Wanting to build a stronger foundation for their new life together, they began to consider joining as business partners as well, and naturally, their thoughts ventured into the food industry, and that is when the idea for a food truck began to mature. 

In the early stages of planning, Joey and Kylee were initially only interested in creating a food truck version of Teriyaki Grill to be named Lola’s Teriyaki, which would join Big Boy’z Smoke House, another family-owned food truck. As the couple fine-tuned their food truck and finalized their restaurant logo, bright red flames rising up from a golden outline of a wok, Karl approached Joey with a more elaborate vision for their new business. While praising Joey’s desire to revive healthy food bowls with Asian flair, he encouraged Joey to consider a more “first-class” undertaking. “He likes to do stuff all out,” says Joey, adding, “So whatever it is, it has to be done right.” Going back to the drawing board meant putting together a business plan and meeting with architects and engineers in order to make the most of the plot of land that would become North Village Food Park. The end result is Joey’s vision for an ideal, and, of course, first-class eating and gathering outdoor experience. 

The location of North Village Food Park, 2102 Timberline Court, was chosen for its spaciousness, which now houses 3,500 square feet of seating, covered by a mammoth forest green and medium-brown pavilion, complete with ceiling lights and large ceiling fans. Another significant component Joey adamantly desired to include was the installation of lawn grass at the entrance of the food truck park. This would factor into a key aspect of the park’s family-friendly promise, which includes movie nights and foam parties for kids. “Then, people could bring blankets or lawn chairs and lie in the front yard and watch a movie or sporting event,” he says. As a father of two young girls and twins on the way, he understands better than most the importance of creating and maintaining family-oriented spaces. Keeping his children in mind, he wanted to make sure the food truck park kept a play area that had already existed in the original location. This new and improved designated play area is sure to keep the kiddos busy while parents and friends savor their meal. The multifaceted playground features a tunnel, a bridge, swinging rings, and elevated platforms, and has been relined and recreated with rubber mulch, new drains, and new borders. Additional park amenities include well-kept trash cans and washing areas, and visitors should expect a clean and picturesque area complemented by a vast sky view, colorful flowerbeds, and the occasional sounds of busy birds. “That’s all we want for the people that work there and for the customers. We just want the best for everybody,” says Joey.

“I didn’t necessarily care how much restaurant experience someone had,” says Joey when recalling the types of mobile eateries he wanted to include in the space. “I really was just looking for people who wanted to come and work hard, who saw the potential that our park had, and really wanted to do something, not only for themselves, but for the community.” Currently, the park is home to four food trucks with three more on the way. Lola’s Teriyaki specializes in rice bowls where you can pick your protein, spice level, vegetables, and sauce for a hearty meal. Big Boy’z Smoke House is straight-up barbeque fanfare, whose brisket plates and Bayou Bombs (jalapeño peppers stuffed with cream cheese, smoked brisket, wrapped in bacon) have become some of Joey’s go-to eats. As the only barbecue trailer, it is parked next to a custom-built smokehouse made by local playground equipment supplier, Monkey Business. SaborMex Taqueria, as the name suggests, is offering a range of traditional Mexican flavors, including their in-demand, juicy and cheesy quesabirria tacos, served with lime and dipping broth. And Ckeey’s Place is self-described as “down-home goodness made with love, soul and a whole lotta flavor.” Joey, who is a “big greens fan,” is partial to the Sunday menu, which includes meatloaf, collard greens, yams, macaroni and cheese, and corn. By the first week of October, the park will have a full house, with an added sushi trailer, Cajun cuisine trailer, and a trailer featuring South African dishes.

Holding to its reputation for hosting memorable, family-friendly events, North Village Food Park hosted a Back to School Movie Night on August 16th, which began with a foam party by Foamtabulous and ended with the screening of Mufasa: The Lion King. Come October, to celebrate their one-year anniversary, the park will host a “Big Smoke” gathering, where cigar vendors from all over the country will display their products. Ultimately, the space is versatile and caters to fun and functional activities.

As a first-time business-owner, Joey does not take his success lightly. He understands the hard times a business can go through, and has been practicing a spirit of gratitude, striving to appreciate the “little things” and aiming to support his employees as best as he can. He stresses, “I try to put everybody before me. I need them to succeed just as much as I need myself to succeed.” Just a few months into his business, he has experienced the warmth of the Northeast Louisiana community, and hopes North Village Food Park, by embracing a welcoming atmosphere, will provide a space where community and quality converge.