Two Blokes and a bus named Victoria

Two long-lost friends meet in the middle of Illinois after a gap of 20 years and start a food truck. Sounds familiar? There is nothing new about a food truck; in fact, it is an integral part of big city life.
“2 Blokes and a Bus” is not your regular meals-on-wheels establishment. For starters, it’s not a common sight in these parts to find a British double-decker in perfectly working condition, and serving an eclectic mix of street food. You will have to savor the experience to know the difference.

Meet Jon and Steffan, the main characters of this tasty plot. It appeared to be nothing more than a pleasant coincidence when the 2 blokes found each other working in the same Bloomington restaurant they did 20 years ago. All it took was a chance encounter with a bus to ignite their entrepreneurial fire, get their creative juices flowing, and combine their culinary talents.

The pair purchased the double-decker, refurbished, renamed it “Victoria”, and hit the streets. Parking in street corners or parking lots of the tiny twin towns of Bloomington-Normal, they serve “globally inspired street food.”

The best part of the whole experience is the cozy seating area on the top floor of the bus. Climb up the winding stairs, and there is a delightful little eatery on top that comfortably seats about 25 people.

“I always wanted to own a restaurant,” says Jon. His business partner Steff, who is originally from England, brings his international experience to the pair. “We have an interesting collection of eclectic street food including samosas and fish and chips,” says Steff serving steaming Cuban Rice and Black Beans on a Union Jack tray, the clipped British accent is unmistakable.

The second lease of life has worked wonders for Victoria – the 1951 Leyland that’s straight out of a picture postcard from good old Piccadilly. Thanks to the enterprising duo, the bus looks spanking new and every bit classic. Taking the interiors apart bit by bit, the 2 blokes have created a neat little hang out for anyone looking for a hot tasty bite of freshly prepared food. “The exterior was pretty good but we had to put in some work inside,” says Jon. From fitting the water tank, laying the pipes for gas, putting a kitchen sink, to lowering the floor to increase the vertical space, the duo has spared no effort in making Victoria complete.  “It was no different than setting up any commercial kitchen,” says Jon.

 Did it ever cross their minds that Bloomington-Normal could probably be too small for their business? “We knew that we had a strong concept, and had confidence in ourselves,” explains Jon. “We were surprised by the response,” he says. “I see people, some of them with children, patiently waiting in line braving sub-zero temperatures,” beams a clearly pleased Jon. 

The Blokes haven’t done much marketing except for a FaceBook page. “The bus sells for itself,” laughs Jon. There is no doubt that Victoria grabs a lot of attention from passers-by. The quality of hot, freshly prepared food takes care of the rest. In a short time, Two Blokes and a Bus have earned quite a loyal following. The long lines and growing numbers of fans on FaceBook is enough evidence for their quality of food and service. The Blokes have certainly started off right.