Keeping Things Popping – Jennifer Wilson Launches New Event Space

Jennifer Wilson is no stranger to the hustle. From cleaning houses in Yorktown as a single mother to launching a successful catering business, she knows the path of entrepreneurship well. Now, her latest venture is taking shape in the old Puerto Vallarta restaurant on North Broadway in Muncie – an event venue she is transforming into a hub for flexible celebrations.

The building needed some updates and a bit of a facelift. But her vision is clear: create a space that frees her guests and event planners from rigid contracts with caterers or party planners. Instead, guests can choose their own services or rely on her expertise.

Her company, A Team Concessions & Catering, known for both a food truck and catering, will take up residence in the venue’s parking lot. The popular food truck will offer breakfast a few times a month. Guests can dine in or grab a meal to go, to get a sampling of her home cooking. Follow A Team Concessions on Facebook for scheduling updates.

Inside, the space will feature shuffleboard, ping-pong, and a large TV for game nights or photo slideshows for weddings and graduations. Wilson, used to hosting from her bustling family gatherings, wants this venue to feel like home. She prides herself on cooking home-style meals from scratch, and never resorting to canned or bagged ingredients. “I come from a large family and cook for them every week,” she said. “The family is so big we have to do holiday gatherings in shifts!”

During her journey she joined Community Business Connections, a networking group in Muncie, and she is now the president of the organization. She wouldn’t have gotten where she is today without help from members of that group. “I clean toilets and cook; I don’t do spreadsheets,” she said. So, she sought help from Peggy Cenova, former director of the Small Business Development Center, and Ted Baker, director of the Innovation Connector. “They got me on the right path,” Wilson said.

Another item she’s proud of is her very own unique popcorn called Cardinal Corn. “You can’t recreate this at home the right way,” she said. “It requires a very specific type of popper.” She adds that the original Cardinal Corn is available through A Team Concessions. It’s available in large or small orders and can be shipped anywhere nationwide. “Everyone should try my Cardinal Corn at least once,” she said. “You won’t find anything like it anywhere else.”

Wilson’s commitment to her community is equally impressive. When the Soup Kitchen of Muncie lost one of its freezers earlier this year, she immediately reached out to her network connections to receive donations to get it up and running. She also generously donates to local nonprofits and commits to local sponsorships.

Managing her businesses is no small feat, but Wilson thrives on the challenge and understands the importance of adaptability. “If it doesn’t make dollars, it doesn’t make ‘cents,’” she often says, embracing the need to pivot whenever necessary, as she wants to provide services her community needs.

Her commitment to both community and quality promises to make her new venture a valuable addition to Muncie.