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SHEBOYGAN — Kevin Ludens didn’t anticipate how successful his barbecue food truck business would be in its first few months.

Heavy Smoker BBQ expanded its catering services and donated several hundreds of pounds of food to the Sheboygan Salvation Army and Samaritan’s Hand sober house, part of Ludens’ mission to address hunger through the “glory of God.”

Milestones since opening in late April include quickly selling out on opening day and participating in Oostburg’s AugustFest celebration, Ludens said.

“It was just absolutely amazing to see the community support. That really continued for several weeks after that, and really, every time we took the truck out, we had very good turnout,” he said.

Ludens has been supported by his family through this endeavor, including his brother Phil, wife Jennifer and two kids, Michaela and Gabriel. They’ve helped with ordering inventory, taking orders and cooking.

“None of this would have been possible without God's help and my family’s support. I'm very thankful for both,” Ludens said.

He said next year could bring more menu items like baked potatoes and nachos.

Business at Vene’s Pancake House, 1632 Michigan Ave., has been very good, too, co-owner Alfredo Venegas said.

Since opening earlier this year, the restaurant has added gift certificates, pancake varieties and more monthly specials, some in such popular demand Venegas added them to the main menu, like chilaquiles. Customers have responded positively to Venegas’ fusion of Mexican and American cuisine.

At Vene's Pancake House, Venegas said customers have told him they feel like they’re back home, eating a dish that their mom or grandma would make for them.

“I say, ‘Yeah, of course, because I make it with love and from scratch,” he said with a chuckle.

Venegas shared that meeting customer demand in the small space, which could expand next year, and ensuring ingredients are stocked has been challenging at times. He said he couldn’t find French vanilla creamer for a three-week period.

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To manage stress and operations, Venegas has delegated various responsibilities to his wife and co-owner Yanet Venegas and other staff, like managing the dining room and accounting. He had to find a team who could meet his quality standards for presentation and style, too.

About four months ago, Vene’s Pancake House rolled out a free breakfast program for Sheridan Elementary School students who earn a “Student of the Month” recognition, for which they will receive a free breakfast certificate.