Emily Carter
2 Fat 2 Fly was a food truck business in Columbia, South Carolina, that served stuffed chicken wings. The business was founded by best friends Ramone Dickerson and Corey Simmons, who invented a revolutionary twist on classic chicken wings by stuffing them with mac and cheese, jambalaya, collard greens and rice, or Thanksgiving stuffing. After gaining popularity, they opened a restaurant in 2015, which has since closed down, and their food truck has been parked since 2018. However, Dickerson and Simmons are cooking up a new plan, and Dickerson pledges to stuff chicken wings again in the future.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Location | Columbia, South Carolina |
| Founders | Ramone Dickerson and Corey Simmons |
| Specialties | Thanksgiving stuffed chicken wings, mac n' cheese stuffed chicken wings, "sucka punch" (includes jalapenos, cheese, and bacon) |
| Current Status | Closed since January 2018 |
| Future Plans | Founders are cooking up a new plan |
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What You'll Learn
2 Fat 2 Fly's stuffed chicken wings
2 Fat 2 Fly is a food truck business based in Columbia, South Carolina, that was founded by best friends Ramone Dickerson and Corey Simmons. The business is known for its unique and revolutionary twist on a culinary classic: stuffed chicken wings.
The duo's specialties included Thanksgiving stuffed chicken wings (stuffed with traditional Thanksgiving stuffing), mac n' cheese stuffed chicken wings, and "sucka punch" wings, which included jalapenos, cheese, and bacon. Their inventive take on comfort food and bar food earned them local and national celebrity status, and they even landed their own reality TV show, 2 Fat 2 Fly, which documented their small-town food truck business.
The popularity of their stuffed chicken wings led to high demand, and they opened a restaurant in Columbia in the fall of 2015. However, they found it challenging to turn a profit due to the high costs of production and often struggled to keep up with demand. Despite their challenges, Dickerson and Simmons remain committed to their business and have hinted at a possible return. In the meantime, their food truck is parked in a friend's yard, and Dickerson, who became the executive performance chef for the University of South Carolina's athletic department, teases that there will be "some aspect of 2 Fat" in his future culinary endeavours.
Although 2 Fat 2 Fly is currently inactive, the impact of their inventive stuffed chicken wings is lasting. The business inspired a TV show, and their unique recipes continue to be remembered and enjoyed, demonstrating the enduring appeal of their creative take on classic comfort food.
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The food truck business
The cost of starting a food truck business varies depending on your specific situation, but it generally requires a smaller upfront investment than a traditional restaurant. The average cost to start a food truck can range from $28,000 to $114,000 or even $70,000 to $130,000, depending on various factors. One-time startup costs include purchasing a food truck, a point-of-sale system, advertising, and professional fees. There are also recurring costs to consider, such as payroll, ingredient sourcing, and fuel. Acquiring funding may be one of the biggest challenges when starting a food truck business, so having a solid business plan and good personal and business credit are important.
When starting a food truck business, it is essential to have a well-thought-out concept and a visually appealing logo to attract customers. The concept, name, and logo should reflect the unique style and interests of the business owner while also catering to the interests of the local community. A food truck business plan should include an executive summary, company description, market analysis, organization and management plan, and service or product line description. This plan can be presented to potential investors, laying out the vision and financial projections for the business.
Marketing and social media presence are also crucial for a food truck's success, as competition for the best spots can be fierce. It is recommended to have enough money to sustain the business for a few months to a year until a consistent route and schedule are established. Additionally, it is important to obtain the proper licenses and permits, which vary depending on the location.
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2 Fat 2 Fly's restaurant challenges
2 Fat 2 Fly, a food truck business based in Columbia, South Carolina, was founded by best friends Ramone Dickerson and Corey Simmons. The duo rose to fame with their unique offering of stuffed chicken wings, with specialties including Thanksgiving stuffed chicken wings (stuffed with stuffing), mac n' cheese stuffed chicken wings, and "sucka punch", which included jalapeños, cheese, and bacon.
The business encountered various challenges and triumphs throughout its journey. One significant challenge was the pressure and expectations from the community. People constantly offered unsolicited suggestions and requests for the food truck's operations, such as asking Dickerson and Simmons to bring the truck to their locations for exposure. Managing this pressure while staying true to their vision and maintaining their unique spot in the national food scene was a constant challenge for the founders.
Another challenge arose when they decided to open a brick-and-mortar restaurant in Columbia in the fall of 2015. The restaurant faced difficulties turning a profit due to the high cost of their unique menu items. The demand often outstripped their supply, and they struggled to keep up with the overwhelming support, especially on football game days and during festivals or farmer's markets at the nearby State Fairgrounds. The restaurant proved to be a more significant undertaking than they had anticipated, and they had to navigate the challenges of managing a busy restaurant while also running their popular food truck business.
In addition, 2 Fat 2 Fly faced competition and the threat of their concept being replicated. While filming their reality TV show, they learned that another food truck had begun making stuffed chicken wings, potentially impacting their uniqueness in the market. This prompted them to consider taking their business to Atlanta to expand their reach and stay ahead of the competition. However, they also had to deal with financial constraints and considered crowd-funding initiatives to generate extra cash while also working on mass-production prototypes for their wings.
Despite the challenges, Dickerson and Simmons remained committed to their passion and pledged to bring back their iconic stuffed chicken wings in some form. They emphasized that their success was not solely measured by monetary gains, and they valued their creative freedom and the impact they had on the culinary world with their revolutionary twist on a classic dish.
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Plans for a comeback
Although 2 Fat 2 Fly closed its doors in January 2018, its founders Ramone Dickerson and Corey Simmons insist that their innovative food business is not dead and that they are cooking up a new plan.
The Columbia-based food truck and restaurant gained fame for its unique stuffed chicken wings, with specialties including Thanksgiving stuffed chicken wings (stuffed with stuffing), mac n' cheese stuffed chicken wings, and "sucka punch," which included jalapenos, cheese, and bacon. The wings were so popular that they even landed Dickerson and Simmons a reality TV show, "2 Fat 2 Fly," which documented their small-town food truck business and the challenges they faced.
Despite the success of their food truck, the transition to a brick-and-mortar restaurant proved challenging. The high demand for their unique wings often outstripped their supply, and turning a profit on their expensive menu items was difficult. As a result, the restaurant closed in 2018 when Dickerson became the executive performance chef for the University of South Carolina athletic department.
However, Dickerson and Simmons have hinted at a possible comeback. While they don't have any concrete plans yet, they have suggested that they may bring back their famous stuffed wings in some form. The exact timing and details of their comeback are unclear, but the duo remains committed to their passion for food and providing unique culinary experiences.
In the meantime, the 2 Fat 2 Fly food truck sits parked in a friend's yard, a reminder of the success and challenges the business partners faced. Dickerson and Simmons remain determined to make a comeback and share their creative genius with the world once again.
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The future of 2 Fat 2 Fly
Despite the closure, Dickerson and Simmons have hinted at a possible return. In an interview, Dickerson stated, "A lot of people think that it's dead... It's definitely not dead." They have also mentioned that they are cooking up a new plan, but nothing is ready to be implemented yet. This suggests that they are exploring new ideas and strategies to bring back their beloved stuffed chicken wings concept.
The challenge of turning a profit due to high demand and the associated costs was a contributing factor to their initial closure. However, the founders have expressed their motivation was never solely financial. They have also faced challenges in managing the sudden fame and exposure that came with their success, both locally and nationally.
The public's positive response to their innovative cuisine and the recent interest from a local entrepreneur may be factors that encourage the founders to relaunch 2 Fat 2 Fly. The idea of mass-producing their unique wings has been explored, and Simmons has even created a wing-stuffing machine. While there is no set timeline for their return to the food industry, Dickerson has pledged to stuff chicken wings again, stating, "Maybe it'll come with stuffed wings. So, there'll be some aspect of 2 Fat in there somewhere."
In conclusion, the future of 2 Fat 2 Fly remains uncertain, but the founders' dedication to their craft and the popularity of their innovative cuisine suggest that a comeback is possible. The support and recognition they have received from their community and beyond may be the motivation they need to bring their revolutionary stuffed chicken wings back to the market.
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Frequently asked questions
No, 2 Fat 2 Fly closed in January 2018. However, the owners have stated that they plan to bring it back in the future.
2 Fat 2 Fly served stuffed chicken wings with various fillings, including mac and cheese, jambalaya, collard greens and rice, and Thanksgiving stuffing. They also offered a "sucka punch" option with jalapenos, cheese, and bacon.
The owners of 2 Fat 2 Fly were best friends Ramone Dickerson and Corey Simmons, who are credited with inventing the unique concept of stuffed chicken wings.
2 Fat 2 Fly closed due to various challenges, including high expenses and difficulty in scaling up production, and the owners' desire to pursue other career opportunities and have more control over their business. Ramone Dickerson became the executive performance chef for the University of South Carolina's athletic department after closing the business.
