Local food truck owners battle extreme temperatures
CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. (KBSI) – As temperatures continue to rise throughout the region, local business owners say they’re feeling the heat.
The extreme heat is taking a toll on more than just people but businesses too as some choose to close down, others do everything they can to stay open.
Isabelle Schott is the owner of Crepe Girardeau, a food truck business based in Cape Girardeau that makes all kinds of specialty crepes.
“We originally were going to set up at the Jackson food truck rally today” says Schott. “It is the first and last Wednesday of the month, but because of the heat index and because the Crepe griddles inside the food truck are at around 500 degrees, we decided to sit this one out.”
Schott is also the organizer of the food truck rally in Jackson, and she shares that the heat has effects on both workers and equipment.
“I would say with the heat the number of customers that we see is pretty comparable to if it rains. So, customers don’t really want to be outside, understandably. The food truck owners are cooking themselves and, even, even the equipment works harder. So, the air conditioner in the food truck is helpful but again, when the crepe griddles are at 500 degrees, it’s still pretty warm in there” says Schott.
Many other food truck owners braved the heat today and gathered in Jackson for the food truck rally, Country Store Food Truck, Chimneys, Wats Knots and more were seen cooking and serving guests. Schott shares that although her business closed on Wednesday, they will be ready to go this Saturday, August 1, 2026 at the Cape River Front Market, Schott also praises her team for being ready to brave whatever climate comes their way, sharing that many of her workers are coincidently former athletes.
“They are all conditioned to short spurts of being uncomfortable in the heat and I’m really thankful for that mentality. They are previous like track runners or volleyball players or basketball players or one girl in the National Guard and isn’t afraid of being uncomfortable we all have a goal in mind and working together as a team to get through the heat and get the get the job done” says Schott.
