Community Highlights: Meet Michael Loveland of Lovie’s

Today we’d like to introduce you to Michael Loveland.

Hi Michael, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
It all started with my Dad, Nino, being the General Manager of the locally famous hotdog joint Yesterdog for 20 years. My entire childhood I grew up in that type of atmosphere and I absolutely fell in love with it all. Learned a ton.

In 2017 when I was 21, my Dad opened up his own restaurant called 1 Bun Restaurant. I helped him run the day to day and learned a lot during that experience as well. Good and bad. Unfortunately 1 Bun closed by the end of 2018 and I went to work as an Assistant Manager for one of the local Russ’ Restaurants. Again I learned even more during this experience. Once 1 Bun closed I had planned to eventually start my own restaurant and working at Russ’ was just a necessary stepping stone toward that goal.

Then Covid happened. To start off 2020, I lost my job at Russ’. Lost and not knowing what my next move was. I started doing DoorDash & Shipt delivery for my jobs. Due to Covid and the pandemic of 2020, my plans shifted toward a food truck over a restaurant. I bought my first food truck in August of 2020 and after more grinding and hustling saving up money, I finally opened my food truck business in June 2021.

A few seasons past and in early 2024, my old food truck died out on me. It was a 1980 Food Truck so it was old. A perfect starter food truck to get me going and get my name out there. In March of 2024, a month before my season started, I purchased a brand new food trailer and pickup truck and did everything needed to get it legally registered and operated for business.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Like I said in a previous comment, my biggest roadblocks or hurdles I’ve come across since opening for business is as followed.

When I first got started I didn’t know all the requirements food trucks needed to legally operate. So when I bought my first food truck in August of 2020, now you know why I didn’t open until June 2021.

But my biggest hurdle ever was with 3 weeks until opening day of my 2024 season. I had to find, purchase, and get everything legally ready to go with my new food trailer and pickup truck…. And I still made my opening date! Talk about crunch time!

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Lovie’s?
Lovie’s is a Food Truck & Catering business. We specialize is Gourmet All-Beef Hotdogs with Homemade Coney Sauce. 1/2 LBS made fresh to order Butter Burgers, Sandwiches & more. We operate April-Mid November each year all around the general Grand Rapids, Michigan area.

We all have a different way of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
Success is a spectrum. I define success as getting to choose how each day of your life plays out. No one tells me where to be or where to go or what time to be there or be done. I control my life, my job, my business and my income. I don’t rely on other people. I rely on myself each and every day to go out and give my best. I’m very big on work/life balance. Which is one reason why I close down for winter Mid November-March each season. During season I usually only operate Wednesday-Saturday each week and have Sunday-Tuesday off.

Pricing:

• Hotdogs ($4.00-$6.00)
• Burgers & Sandwiches ($8.00-$12.00)
• Sides ($2.00-$7.00)
• Drinks ($2.00-$3.00)

Contact Info:

• Website: https://linktr.ee/loviesfoodtruck
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lovies.food.truck/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Lovies.Food.Truck
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@LoviesFoodTruck
• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lovies.food.truck