Business Time
The Love Bug Food Truck Owner Spearheads Small Town Saturday Event
Writer / Matt Keating
Photography Provided
Abby Ripberger, co-owner of the successful For the Love of Food meal prep service and The Love Bug food truck in Tipton, recently spearheaded the new Small Town Saturday movement for local businesses.
She says the movement has become very popular in downtown Tipton.
“Small Town Saturdays are the third Saturday of the month during the summer in downtown Tipton,” Ripberger says. “Hopefully we can continue the momentum into the continuing months.”
Ripberger, who grew up in Tipton, says she was inspired to start Small Town Saturday to help all of the local businesses in the area. She says it’s a great way to experience a small city, and to check out all of the local food trucks, coffee shops, restaurants and boutiques.
“There are so many local shops in downtown Tipton and so many wonderful businesses that I thought it was important everyone knew how much we had to offer,” Ripberger says. “I walked into every local business I could, and asked them if they would be willing to come together one Saturday a month to help drive folks into all the downtown shops.”
Ripberger asked them to offer something that highlights their business.
“I wanted it to be something that was not necessarily a discount either, because I believe our products and services have value,” she says. “Every single business owner said yes – not just a yes, but an exciting, ‘Yes please!’ I had some flyers printed and created an event on social media, and asked people to come spend some time eating and shopping with us.”
Ripberger notes that shoppers and food buyers also responded enthusiastically.
“Everyone was excited to be a part of encouraging growth and business in the downtown Tipton area,” she says.
Ripberger is pleased that customers enjoy the food from The Love Bug food truck, which started in the fall of 2020 and is also featured at Small Town Saturday. They also still enjoy her food prep service.
“People have told me people get the things their grandma used to make,” Ripberger says. “We have seasonal, fresh, homemade cooked food. Customers always like to get a delicious cookie or brownie, or piece of cake, for dessert.”
Ripberger plans to continue making her loyal customers happy. “My goal with The Love Bug is to show people I love them by feeding them,” she says. “I want them to feel heard and seen, and leave with a full belly and a smile.”
When Ripberger started For the Love of Food with Jama Fernung, the goal was to adopt a healthier lifestyle for both of their families. They both loved food preparation and started preparing healthier meals for their families. They posted photos of the meals on Facebook, and Ripberger and Fernung started receiving a lot of requests to sell their healthy meals. After that, they started For the Love of Food in January of 2020.
Ripberger says she couldn’t be happier with the way the businesses have taken off and how families have responded to their food. There are also exciting future endeavors.
“Jama is no longer involved with the food truck,” Ripberger says. “She is opening a great new business called The Shack, so we divided some responsibilities. We are still great friends and talk every day.”
Ripberger says their fans will enjoy what is coming next. “We have big plans in the works,” she says. “I can’t give details just yet,
but there’s something really exciting just around the corner.”
To find out more about For the Love of Food, call 317-385-2095 or visit fortheloveoffoodmealprep.com.
