ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — A new mobile floral truck, jennifleurs, launched this spring in Albuquerque and is ready to bring flowers directly to you.
“This business is all about supporting local businesses and the community,” owner Jennifer Esquivel said. “There’s like this symbiotic relationship where we can pop up in front of a local business.”
Adorned with silver buckets filled with blooms, the 1968 VW Double Cab operates through a build-your-own-bouquet model, which allows customers to choose flower combinations and bouquet sizes themselves.
Esquivel said most bouquets range from $25 to $35, but customers are able to make a bouquet of any price depending on their budget.
Jennifer Esquivel, owner of mobile flower truck jennifleurs, makes a bouquet for a customer May 9.
“It’s all about what people can afford, what makes them happy and so that’s really the goal and the concept,” she said.
Esquivel, who in her day job handles marketing and media communications for the New Mexico Film Office, said she first learned of the flower truck concept several years ago when she was in Nashville and the concept has stuck with her ever since.
A 1968 Volkswagen Transporter is the traveling home base for jennifleurs. (Adolphe Pierre-Louis/Albuquerque Journal)
“It’s a dream come true,” Esquivel said. “I’ve been dreaming of this business for three years, wanting the truck, wanting the business, and so, you know, the best part of it is meeting all the good people of Albuquerque and developing those connections.”
She said that many large cities have similar concepts and her lifelong love of both Volkswagens and flowers made it seem like the perfect business opportunity.
“I love big cities and I love the things and the surprises – such as flower trucks – that they offer,” Esquivel said. “And I want that for Albuquerque so badly.”
The truck, named Eunice after its former owner, also fulfills Esquivel’s lifelong dream of owning a Volkswagen.
Jennifer Esquivel, left, makes a bouquet for customer Elena Careamer-Martinez and her 8-month-old, Samuel Martinez, on Mother’s Day.
“It’s nice that it’s back on the road and specifically Route 66 is a lot of fun for it,” she said.
The truck will be making appearances at local businesses on Saturdays and Sundays, though flower ordering is available through the shop’s website.
Esquivel said that when developing the business it was important to her to find ways to get involved with the community.
“I think that Albuquerque really needs to sort of hold on to hope, and those of us that have remained or who have returned … we’ve got to all step up and find ways to positively contribute to our community,” she said.
To learn more about jennifleurs, visit jennifleursflowertruck.square.site.
Waffling around
Aaron Hundley knows that when people think of waffles two things typically come to mind: breakfast waffles, and chicken and waffles.
But Hundley, who co-owns new waffle-based restaurant Waffology in Corrales, wants to expand preconceived notions of the popular breakfast item.
“We’re taking our guests to school, and showing them something different,” he said.
Waffology co-owner Kanisha Hundley, left, and her kids, Lydia, 9, Titus, 6, and Savannah, 7, are seen at Hundley’s new restaurant.
Menu items extend beyond the traditional diner-style waffles dripping with syrup to include unique offerings like an American-style waffle with beef short rib meat and pickled onion, a dessert waffle with matcha mousse, and a cobb salad with waffle croutons.
Even childhood favorites make an appearance, like the Crunch Berry Waffle inspired by Captain Crunch cereal.
“It’ll remind you of your days as a child eating Captain Crunch on Saturday morning watching cartoons,” he said.
Waffology chef Alfredo Trujillo makes a cobb salad with waffle croutons at the new restaurant, which operates inside of C3’s Bistro in Corrales.
The inclusive menu offers vegan and gluten-free options as well.
Hundley said that many people with dietary restrictions are often limited when they go out to eat and he wanted to make sure that those with dietary restrictions also have enjoyable options.
This isn’t a first restaurant venture for Hundley, the former owner of P’tit Louis Bistro in Nob Hill and current owner of C3’s Bistro in Corrales.
In fact, this isn’t even the first restaurant for Hundley to own in Corrales.
Waffology, which he co-owns with his wife, Kanisha, is located inside of his other restaurant, C3’s Bistro, at 4940 Corrales Road.
For now, Waffology will operate from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday and Tuesday, but there are plans to expand the operating days later on. C3’s Bistro is open 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Wednesdays and Thursdays, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sundays.
Hundley said that opening a waffle-based restaurant comes from his passion for food.
“I’ve always had a passion for it and said ‘You know what, if I’m in this restaurant thing, let me try my hand at doing something really unique,'” he said.
Hundley said that he would eventually like to have the concepts operate independently, but there are no current plans to move from the current location with both restaurants operating out of it.
Sunport kiosk upgrade
Travelers looking to grab a magazine or a snack before a flight can now act as their own cashier by using one of the new self-checkout kiosks at the Albuquerque International Sunport.
The kiosks, located in the Hudson News Store, will accept all credit cards and all items, excluding electronics, will be able to be purchased at the kiosks, according to Sunport spokeswoman Stephanie Kitts.
Kitts said a regular checkout counter will still be available.
“This project is a great example of continued adaptation with respect to COVID safety measures,” Nyika Allen, director of Aviation for the City of Albuquerque, wrote in a statement.
The Link LonkMay 17, 2021 at 01:02PM
https://www.abqjournal.com/2391284/abq-flower-truck-offers-customers-blooms-on-the-go.html
ABQ flower truck offers customers blooms on the go - Albuquerque Journal
https://news.google.com/search?q=Flower&hl=en-US&gl=US&ceid=US:en
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