Hungry on the road to Fort McMurray?
A new stop has set up shop on Highway 63, and the grill never goes cold. Joe Boo’s Mobile Eatery sits just north of the KM 22 sign, between Grassland and Wandering River, and serves customers around the clock, every day of the week.
The business is run by a family with eight years of food truck experience behind them, first on Vancouver Island and then in Dome Creek, B.C., a small community between McBride and Prince George. They spent six years in Dome Creek before deciding to leave. With sawmills closing and fewer new projects starting up around Prince George, the owners say making a living had become a struggle, so they began searching for a farm or acreage in Alberta.
A property along Highway 63 ticked the boxes: easy highway access and the country living they wanted. Family played a big part in the decision, too. The couple hoped to give their three-year-old daughter a quieter upbringing, with their two Great Pyrenees dogs along for the ride.
Working in small, remote communities suits them, the owners say. They’ve found residents to be friendly and grateful for a good meal, and they like getting to know their regulars.
The menu leans on comfort food. Burgers are a top seller, including the Dr. Pepper BBQ Bacon Cheese, the Mushroom Swiss and the Hot ’N’ Spicy. Beef dips and Philly sandwiches round out the lunch and dinner offerings, while breakfast sandwiches are there for early risers heading to work. There’s space inside to order and warm up while you wait, and anyone in a hurry can call or text ahead at 236-331-7525.
The truck itself has a bit of Hollywood in its past. The owners say it was built for the film industry and once fed the cast and crew of the Canadian sitcom Corner Gas through all six seasons.
For the family, it’s a new beginning in a new province.
For truckers, commuters and locals on Highway 63, it means a hot meal is now available at any hour.
