Bunnell, Palm Coast food truck is bringing the Munchies

Nydia Velez said she has always had a connection with and passion for food.

"I've always loved food," she said, "ever since I was a little girl.”

She used to watch the Food Network all the time, she said, and has fond memories of watching her mother and grandmother cook, too. She lost her mother when she was 12, she said, and taught herself how to cook after that.

Because of that, she said she’s always dreamed of opening a food truck. But it wasn't until she had her youngest son, Jaizion, four years ago in 2018, that Velez and her husband Carlos decided to go for it.

So, her family food truck, Munchies on the Run, was born. Munchies is currently based at Harris Grocery Store in Bunnell, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. during the week and travelling across Flagler, Putnam and Volusia Counties for events.

The food truck officially opened for business in November 2022, Velez said. They were hoping to open it sooner, she said, but the staffing and supply issues that followed the COVID-19 pandemic slowed the process.

Munchies has hit a few bumps along the road but over the last few months they’ve had a positive response from their community on social media.

“It’s been great,” she said. “I’ve had people follow wherever I’m at.”

Velez said she posts the hours location on Munchies on the Run’s Facebook page.

Their truck carries a variety of french fry plates topped with a multitude of toppings, empanadas — ranging from a standard beef and cheese to a pizza empanada, alongside other fillings — and their breakfast sandwiches like the "Belly Buster."

They also cater. Though, since they’re freshly opened, they haven’t had much opportunity to do so, Velez said.

The key focus of Munchies, she said, is good, fun food. The most popular items are their fries and empanadas, Velez said. Eventually, Velez said she wants to incorporate more Latin American flavors to their menu. 

For now, they are trying to make their food fun and interesting with unique recipes, like their pizza empanadas. Their crazy fries, for example, come with cheese, chicken, bacon, hot dog, mayo, ketchup and sour cream, she said, but are customizable, too.

"I wanted fun foods," Velez said.

Carlos Velez, Nydia’s husband, works at Munchies with her. He said they try not to have a lot of extra food sitting for a long time.

“We want stuff fresh,” he said, “that’s why we try not to overdo it. If we sell out, we sell out.”

Carlos Velez has a history in business ownership — the couple has lived in Palm Coast for 15 years, he said, and in that time he only spent two years working for someone else.

While he currently owns a landscaping company, Velez said, he did try his hand at a restaurant in Bunnell a few years back. He said the food truck is a better idea to him because of the versatility.

“At least with a food truck you can travel,” he said. “If you have flavor, [people] are going to follow.”

Velez said he is proud of his wife for the work she’s done — she's not normally the one to take chances, he said, and he encouraged her to take the lead on Munchies.

“This time, she was very positive,” he said. “I let her do what she was going to do.”

Nydia Velez said the biggest upside is the flexibility. She used to work as a medical assistant until 2018, she said, but quit when her youngest was born to focus on the family. Now, working the food truck allows them both more time with their family, even when they cover events.

Munchies is really a family affair, Velez said. From helping decide the name — which their 12-year-old Elijah picked out, she said — to helping clean at home while their parents run the truck, Velez said their kids want to be involved in any way they can.

“They’re always wanting leftovers,” Carlos Velez said.

For now, Nydia Velez said they are focused on getting their name out there, being consistent and reaching out to events and people who might not know who they are yet. Carlos Velez said the key to a good business is getting out and showing your face.

“For me it’s not how you start,” he said. “It’s how you finish.”