Churasan preparing spot for off-season food service

By Travis Fischer, tkfischer@charlescitypress.com

It’s been a whirlwind four months for Megumi Abbott.

Last April, Abbott took a plunge and left her job to be a full-time owner of her food truck business, Churasan. Bringing authentic Japanese dishes to Charles City that she had enjoyed growing up in Okinawa, Abbott has been busy all summer serving up sushi rolls and rice balls around the area, nearing 3,000 items sold since starting up.

“I really appreciate that people like it,” said Abbott.

With the food truck taking off, Abbott is in the early stages of taking the next step for her business. She has recently gotten the keys for a permanent location in Charles City, allowing her to increase her availability and get the ever increasing number of food truck related materials out of her home.

“It will be my staging area where I will do all the prepping,” said Abbott.

Unlike All About Cheesesteaks, another local food truck that expanded into a permanent location, Churasan’s new location won’t be a sit-down restaurant, nor are there immediate plans to install a commercial kitchen in the building.

Instead, the location will serve as a place for the food truck itself to operate during times when it is not otherwise engaged in events.

While this means summer hours will be irregular, Abbott is planning to be open during the winter, currently considering hours of 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Monday through Thursday for walk-up or call-ahead orders.

“I want to do spam and eggs for breakfast and sushi for options,” said Abbott. “I want to have more inside filling options for rice balls too.”

Exact plans are still being pondered, and the building itself will need a lot of work before it is ready, but Abbott hopes to have the regular location ready to open up this fall after returning from a planned trip back to Japan.

“Everything is still in the process,” said Abbott.

In the meantime, Abbott is keeping busy with summer events. Churasan will be at Central Park today for Party in the Park and will be at the Floyd County Fair next week.

As busy as Abbott has been, she said she is happy to see her venture succeed, which has allowed her to spend more time with her children. She’s thankful for the family members and workers that have helped turn her dream into a reality, along with the people that have enjoyed her food.

“I wouldn’t be here without all the customers and I really appreciate that,” said Abbott.