Ken ‘N Barbie’z Rollin’ Diner on the Road to Recovery
WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) — Ken ‘N Barbie’z Rollin’ Diner is making progress toward recovery after a fire incident in June while they were en route. The loss of their food truck posed a significant challenge for owners Kelly Ake and Barb Taber, endangering their source of income. However, support from fellow entrepreneurs, truck drivers, and the local community is helping them get back on their feet.
Kelly and Barb’s journey to reopen their diner has been filled with uncertainty. Distraught over losing their truck, they have opted for a smaller trailer to get back on the road sooner.
“We’ve worked hard to build what we have, and losing it all means starting over,” Taber explained.
To support their new trailer being constructed in Georgia, they also purchased a new truck to tow it. Their post-fire challenges now include dealing with insurance claims and the timely replacement of their inventory.
“Communicating with the trailer builders and navigating financing has been a wake-up call for us,” Ake said, reflecting on the unexpected burdens they now face.
Fortunately, the support from other local business owners is relieving some of that pressure. “This business feels like our baby. It represents us,” remarked Kira Ottaway Watt, owner of Watt’s Cooking and Catering. “It’s about camaraderie, not competition.”
Watt organized a live fundraiser to support Ake and Taber’s quest for a new truck, recalling a time when they helped her during a storm that destroyed her tent. The sense of community encompasses many more supporters beyond just Watt’s Cooking and Catering.
“It feels like the community, with the 70,000 people who viewed our updates, is rooting for us. We want to be back out there, and we’re doing everything we can to make it happen quickly,” Taber stated.
Ake and Taber anticipate picking up their new trailer from Georgia by the week’s end, with plans to officially reopen in time for the Sedgwick County Fair on Saturday.
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