Last Updated on January 23, 2024 by Marybeth
What is it about a fusty old camper? An ancient Airstream that makes you think if only these curved aluminum walls could talk? A lackluster VW Bus from your granddad’s days that could use a good dose of elbow grease (a granddad word!) to bring back its luster?
There is something – almost inexplicable – because bygone equals intriguing. The sputtering rust bucket turns our heads certainly, but when they’re brought back to fresh new life? Wow. And I want to hear the story behind it!
Especially when these trailers, campers, and skoolies are turned into roving businesses. You’ve seen them at festivals, markets, events, and driving past you as your head whips around and you try to steady your wheel.
Do you have an event coming up? Weddings, birthdays, corporate meetings, open houses? Most of the small businesses on our list here are available to elevate your event beyond the ordinary. Or you’ll see others popping up at festivals, fairs, and farmer’s markets. A few are parked within steps of the beach, serving epic specialty foods.
We’ve written three previous articles about these unconventional entrepreneurs all across our Sunshine State. Read about them here and here (this one includes the science behind why we all love them.) Most are still in business, even from our 2019 article, here.
And now that we’ve found twenty-seven more, here you go, for 2022. You’re welcome!
By region:
NORTH / PANHANDLE
TALLAHASSEE
Tallahassee’s First Tap Truckster and Mobile Bartending Service!
Type of business: Mobile Truckster bar, bartending, mobile frosé cart, champagne wall, and balloon services.
Vintage vehicle: 1900s Cushman Truckster named Hops.
Backstory: When looking for fun ideas for their own wedding in 2020, Sky and Jonathan came across the idea of mobile bars. As there wasn’t one of this type in Tallahassee, they decided to become the first. Their Truckster was for sale (via Instagram stories!) and was formerly a mobile Photo Booth in north Georgia. The couple renovated the vehicle themselves, working all summer “learning all about power tools, kegs, and tap systems.” Read more on the Tallahassee Democrat, here.
Some FAQs: What kind of drinks can you tap? The options are almost endless! Domestic beer, craft beer, wine, hard seltzer, cocktails, lemonade and tea, kombucha, craft sodas. How far do you travel? We will travel up to 60 miles roundtrip at no extra charge. If your event is further away, we do have a small travel fee.
Contact and more info: Fill out the contact form on the website, or email cheers@fizzandfoamtap.com, or call 850-445-9608.
SEASIDE, AIRSTREAM ROW
Sweet & Savory Creperie in Seaside, Florida
Type of business: Food Airstream offering Crepes and Specialty Frosé.
Vintage vehicle: 1972 Airstream.
Backstory: In early 2018 the Crepes du Soleil team found their Airstream via “The Airstream Guy” based out of Kansas. The Airstream was in awesome condition, and including an 8-track player and shag carpet! Much hard work ensued to turn it into a functioning kitchen, and the business opened Labor Day weekend of 2018.
Some menu items: Sweet Crepes: S’mores Sweet Crepe – Marshmallow Cream, Melted Chocolate, and Graham Cracker Crumbles. Apple Pie – Baked Apple, Streusel, Caramel Drizzle. Savory Crepes: Bonjour Breakfast (All Day!) – Egg, Bacon, Potato, Fresh Tomato, Kale, Gruyere Cheese. Poulet – Roasted Chicken, Sherried Onions, Kale, Mushrooms, Gruyere Cheese. There is a vegetarian crepe, and gluten free crepe batter is available upon request.
Contact and more info: info@gazebogourmet.com. Order online through the website, click their name above.
Proudly serving up Hawaiian Shave Ice in Seaside, FL, since 1994
Type of business: Food Airstream offering Hawaiian Shave Ice, Homemade Frozen Custard, Fresh Squeezed Lemonade and other cold drinks.
Vintage vehicle: 1955 Bambi Airstream single-axle.
Backstory: Originally brought to what would become Airstream Row in 1999 by the previous owner, Case Cooper, Frost Bites was the first Airstream. Case convinced the Seaside co-founders that an antique Airstream made the right statement for their little town. In 2003 the business was bought by the Gullet family – and family-run it has been ever since, with owner Mike Gullet’s whole family pitching in (including, we read in this great article by Pratt Farmer, A Trailer By Any Other Name, Mike’s wife Chance’s 80+ year old mom taking a turn at the shaver!)
Some menu items: You can get your shave ice “stuffed,” with frozen custard on the bottom; or make it a Piggly Wiggly with frozen custard on the bottom and cream on the top; or add Gummies, or cream, or chocolate… you get the idea. Click their name above for the complete menu.
Contact and more info: 252-822-4262.
Also located on Airstream Row in Seaside:
Barefoot BBQ – Southern Caribbean smoked hormone-, steroid-, and antibiotic-free meats for sandwiches. BBQ meats available by the pound. Sliders, nachos, salads and more. Beer and wine.
Meltdown on 30A –Traditional and gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches, soups, and chips, beer and wine.
The Green Stream Seaside –Organic cold pressed juices, acai bowls, smoothies, stuffed avocados and other healthy options.
NORTH ATLANTIC
JACKSONVILLE | MARINELAND | ST. AUGUSTINE
Chef-Driven Mobile Surf Cafe in Marineland, FL
Type of business: Mobile food truck serving scratch-made, served-til-it’s-gone, breakfast and lunch. Vegan and gluten free options. Open Wed-Sun 7 am-2 pm.
Vintage vehicle: Blue Bird naval bus originally retrofitted to be a live-aboard home, named Birdie, for Ragga Bean Coffee Co. owners (@raggabeancoffee).
Backstory: With the help of Terra Van Co. and Skoolie.com the bus was converted in Ashville, NC; you can see details @birdieventure. The scratchy (but nevertheless beautiful in its own way!) nave blue was replaced with Sherwin Williams “Splashy.” How perfect for where this bus ended up; oceanside!
Some menu items: Dawn Patrol Breakfast Sandwich – Cage-free eggs, savory cheese, bacon topped with avocado aioli, on a croissant. ‘Steep Drop’ Veggie Tacos – Crispy tofu, mandarin slaw, cucumber on gluten-free street taco shells. Gourmet popsicles, artisan pop-tarts, cold-brewed coffee, seasonal fresh-squeezed lemonade, and more. Click their name above to visit their website, and visit the cafe for a complete list of daily offerings, including Chef Specials.
Contact and location: 904-274-1962, hello@raggasurfcafe.com, 9650 N. Oceanshore Blvd., St. Augustine.
Also in the North Atlantic area:
Retro Reno Campers –Camper renovations, repairs and sales, with their own vintage Scamp camper photobooth for hire.
MID-ATLANTIC
BREVARD COUNTY / MELBOURNE AREA / VERO BEACH
Vintage trailer, elevated event! / Brevard County & Central FL
Type of business: Mobile bartending service offering beer, wine, mimosa, and liquor packages. Enhancements such as signature cocktails, hot chocolate, and coffee bars are also available.
Vintage vehicle: 1970s vintage horse trailer named Aly O’Malley.
Backstory: Aly O’Malley (named after the owners’ oldest daughter) was purchased in 2020 from upstate NY where she received a makeover using beautiful reclaimed bar wood. She made the 1,215 mile trip to Florida to begin service with her owner Lisa, who decided to take a leap of faith and leave her 16-year healthcare management career to pursue her passion of creating a unique bartending service through Brevard County and the Central Florida area.
Some FAQs: What is provided in your packages? Set up and tear down, coolers, ice, bar tools, cups, garnishes, mixes, cocktail napkins, straws, alcohol shopping guide, customized bar menu, certified bartenders, and more! Can the trailer be rented on its own? Yes, the trailer can be rented without bartending services. It has previously been rented for photography sessions, wedding props, and promotional events.
Contact and more info: Fill out the contact form on the website, or email Lisa.cramer@cheekystreetmobilebar.com, or call 321-212-9645.
Coming soon! The perfect centerpiece for any event: beverages, desserts, & more! / Brevard County
Type of business: Mimosas and Moonshine is an event rental boutique, boho vibe to classy chic, offering farmhouse tables, crossback chairs, vintage furniture, arches, vintage dishes and more. When Lulu is complete, she will be a beautiful “prop bar,” offering beverage service + lounge area; anything you dream up for your event.
Vintage vehicle: 1958 Winnebago Travel Trailer named Lulu, still undergoing her transformation!
Backstory: Lulu was purchase in Georgia for the owner’s husband to live in during a long term job, with the dream of a future of hauling their many grandbabies on awesome summertime adventures across the country. The reality of her size became clear; she would be perfect for a couple traveling solo, with perhaps a fur baby. Moving on to the next chapter, Lulu was completely gutted, walls were reframed, a concession window added, and five layers of paint stripped from her aluminum frame. Electrical will be installed soon. It’s been a long, slow journey but Lulu hopes to be rolling into her new position by summer’s end.
Contact and more info: mimosasandmoonshine@gmail.com, 772-360-6384.
Mobile flower shop: pop-ups, deliveries, weddings, private events and more! / Brevard County
Type of business: Mobile flower truck available for deliveries, parties, weddings, also offering floral arranging workshops, and popping up around town at festivals and public events.
Vintage vehicle: 1993 Suburu Sambar.
Backstory: Owner Sarah found her vintage Japanese farming truck on Craigslist. The truck was cute but in need of a major makeover which included a professional paint job and a custom canopy made by a local awning company. They built the wooden deck themselves for the buckets. The truck is a right-hand drive, 5 speed shifter on the left and the speedometer is in KM. The engine is in the back and the tires are smaller than some golf carts! She won’t go faster than 50 mph but that’s all she needs to come to your event or to pop up at festivals.
Some FAQs: How can I send a bouquet of flowers? Please send an email to Sarah@sarahsflowertruck.com. Can you bring your truck to me? Yes! We’re available for corporate events, weddings and bridal showers, birthday parties and other private events. Guests can make their own bouquets to take home.
Contact and more info: Email Sarah@sarahsflowertruck.com. Follow @sarahsflowertruck to see where they’ll be popping up next, and to sign up for flower arranging workshops.
Vintage Camper Mobile Bars and Photo Booths for Hire / Brevard and Martin Counties
Type of business: Mobile bar, photo booth, and photography prop for hire, for weddings, private events, corporate events, fundraisers, photo shoots, birthday parties, and more.
Vintage vehicles: 1966 Joyride Camper named Charming Charley who is now a mobile bar, and 1974 Lark M-01 Camper named Luna who is now a photo booth.
Some FAQs: Where are you located? We are located in Vero Beach, and will travel for events to the surrounding area including Melbourne, Palm Bay, Port St. Lucie, Stuart, and Jupiter. Do you have a liquor license? We have teamed up with Bonner Mobile Bar to provide full liquor service for events requiring a full liquor bar.
Contact and more info: Fill out the contact form on the website by clicking their name, above, or call 561-889-8199.
Acai • Coffee • Bakery / Satellite Beach
Type of business: Brick-and-mortar family owned restaurant on A1A in Satellite Beach who also offer their Wicked Mobile Acai truck for public or private events. The restaurant is open Tues-Sat 8 am-4:30 pm and Sun 8-4.
Vintage vehicle: 1968 van, a bread truck in its former life.
Some menu items: Hot coffee, frozen coffee, and Nitro cold brew coffee such as the Irish Cream Cascade – Irish cream, vanilla creamer, and nutmeg. Acai bowls such as the Dawn Patrol – granola, banana, strawberry, raspberry, almond butter, honey, hempseeds. Dairy-free gluten-free pineapple Dole whips, lemonades and teas. Cupcakes, cookies, muffins, cookie sandwiches like the peanut butter Gamechanger. An always changing menu of new and gluten-free items.
Contact and more info: 1296 Florida A1A, Satellite Beach. 321-610-7026.
Also in the mid-Atlantic, Brevard County area:
Cosmic Event Rentals – Vintage event rentals, Airstream trailers, Espresso coffee bars, photo booths in Melbourne Florida.
SOUTH ATLANTIC
STUART TO MIAMI
South Florida’s First Yellow Mobile Sunflower Truck / Coral Springs, Fort Lauderdale area
Type of business: Mobile sunflower shop popping up at markets and events.
Vintage vehicle: Suzuki carryall.
Backstory: Owner Krista named her business after her mother, who passed away from cancer in 2012. Judith told Krista, “Look for me in the flowers and the sunshine. Where there is happiness that is where I will be.” All her life Krista has been a flower child, and what better way to bring happiness to someone’s life than with flowers, and also paying tribute to her mom.
More info and next appearance: Follow Flowers From Judith on Instagram to see where she will be popping up next, or DM for more info.
Unique mobile bar / Miami
Type of business: Mobile bar with 6 taps and fitted with a rooftop TV to display logos, product info, and more. Capable of connecting to multiple keg sizes for beer, cider, home-brew, water, wine, mixed cocktails and more.
Vintage vehicle: 1964 VW named Sally.
Backstory: Kombikeg originated in Australia where one guy, Phil Hoken, purchased one 1976 VW, stripped and restored it while running three other businesses and spending time with his wife and 6 month old baby. After posting a pic on Facebook and receiving over 65,000 likes in less than a year, Phil began buying VWs from all over Australia and restoring them for franchisees all over the world. While all of this blew our mind, what really shocked me is that there are numerous Kombikegs all over Florida! How did I not know this? We found out so close to publication as to not be able to find out each individual’s history for this article, but check them all out (also how cool is it that Manny and Melissa, of Kombikeg Miami, made sure I knew about the others in Florida. Thank you, you two!):
Kombi Keg 30A, Kombi Keg Orlando, Kombi Keg Sarasota, Kombi Keg St. Pete, and Kombi Keg Tampa.
Some FAQs: Where can Kombi Keg Miami attend? Most large properties and venues throughout our area. The Kombi Keg Mobile Bar needs to be on private property, as it cannot be used on council property without a permit. Check with your venue before booking for the rules and regulations around the serving of alcohol. Can we organize keg hire from Kombi Keg Miami directly? Yes! Consider us your one-stop shop for your event bar needs. We create drink packages to suit all tastes and budgets.
Contact and more info: Fill out the contact form on the website by clicking their name above.
Rustic chic wandering bar / Treasure Coast, Jupiter, WPB and beyond
Type of business: Mobile bar curating a unique vibe for your event. “The Hitchhiker” comes equipped with a 2 tap keg system, wine cooler, and sink.
Vintage vehicle: 1999 WW trailer named “The Hitchhiker”, as she needs a hitch to hike around town, and people “get hitched” when they marry.
Backstory: Owner Krista chose a horse trailer for her mobile business because it fit her style growing up riding equestrian, and she and her husband thought it would be great to have at their own wedding and turn it into a business. The renovation took over 6 months and while many doubted the trailer’s potential, the couple could see the vision “through all that rust.” “To be honest, I really had no idea what I was getting into when I took on this endeavor. I thought it would be easy, quick and cheap, but I was so wrong. A lot of hard work, time and love went into our bar and I couldn’t be happier with how everything turned out.”
Some FAQs: Are you insured? Yes! Our staff is TIPS certified and fully insured. Can we just rent the bar? Yes, or we can provide bartending packages helping you curate a unique and unforgettable event.
Contact and more info: Fill out the inquiry form on the website by clicking their name above.
Type of business: Photography studio and mobile VW piloted by portrait and lifestyle photographer, Tara, offering photography, event styling, and workshops. The VW bus is available as a photography prop and lounge space for events, big and small.
Vintage vehicle: 1978 VW bus named Millie, first nicknamed Granny Smith because of her original green color.
Backstory: Millie made her way from Washington state to Hawaii where she radiated her Aloha spirit for a time before relocating to South Florida. Owner Tara and family created her “glow up” themselves, completely revamping her interior. They removed her headrests to open up the view, rebuilt the seats and upholstering them in @architexfabrics, along with covering the wall panels with fabric from the same company. Her exterior wrap was custom made from a design Tara created.
Some FAQs: Where are you located and how far will Millie travel? She is located in Tequesta, FL, and will travel for events located between Palm Beach Gardens and Hobe Sound. For further distances, Millie can be towed for additional fees. What kind of sessions do you offer? We offer 15 minute mini sessions (perfect for children’s short attention spans!); private 30 and 60 minute sessions; and 30 minute marketing sessions. Visit the website for more details about each.
Contact and more info: Send a message via the contact form on the website, or email TaraLGray@me.com, or call 808-866-4650.
The Treasure Coast’s First Premier Vintage Mobile Bar / Vero Beach to Delray Beach
Type of business: A premier bar on wheels specializing in custom craft cocktails.
Vintage vehicle: 1972 Scotty Guacho camper the owners call their “speakeasy.”
Backstory: Luckily for owner Miranda, her husband and parents were all completely on board with her idea to transform a 50 year old camper into a mobile bar. Within a couple of days she found one in Daytona Beach, where her father (luckily, again!) happened to be working and was able to go check it out. He called and said “It’s the one!” and drove back home to Port St. Lucie, having to stop on the way to find a Home Depot to purchase a hammer and nails to reattach the siding that was falling off in transit. Miranda, her husband, and their family all worked for 5 months contributing much blood, sweat, and tears, often all sitting around inside the camper passing ideas back and forth over cocktails.
Some FAQs: We realize due to FL licensing laws you cannot provide alcohol. What do you provide? Everything else! We source all of our fresh ingredients from local farmer’s markets to provide the best ingredients for our juice mixers and garnishes, and we provide the bartending services, cups, straws, napkins, mixers, boho decor, large chalkboard designed for each event by a local chalk artist. We have a 3 tap pony kegerator system. What if we are unsure of our signature drinks? One month prior to your event we will send over a drink questionnaire asking for your favorite fruits, ingredients etc and will build a custom drink menu for you to choose from.
Contact and more info: Fill out the contact form on the website, or email thebootleggermobilebar@gmail.com, or call Miranda at 772-203-6869.
Also in the south Atlantic region:
Angie’s Epicurean – 1950s Citroen H Van serving plant-based ice cream in the Miami area.
Birdie Floral Truck – 2 floral trucks, one is a right-side driver Japanese Kei truck, in the West Palm Beach area.
Paradise Prosecco – Electric eTuk cart serving Prosecco in the Fort Lauderdale area.
The Boozie Bluebell – electric cart serving beer, wine, craft cocktails, and more, South and Central Florida.
NORTH CENTRAL
GAINESVILLE
Gainesville, FL’s First Tap Truckster
Type of business: BYOB mobile tap truck.
Vintage vehicle: Dump bed Cushman Truckster named Sally.
Backstory: Sally was renovated by The Pour Horse in Texas, where she was bought by another mobile bar business who later decided to sell her. Amanda and her fiancé, Tim, were doing research for their own upcoming wedding (this October! Congrats you two!) and bought Sally, making some renovations of their own – fixing mechanical issues, adding the greenery wall and neon sign. We here at Beaches, Bars and Bungalows are honored to be the first ones to write about The Third Wheel Tap (and we’re betting we won’t be the only ones for long!) This couple has what it takes to be the best mobile bar service in the area! Check out their fun website, click their name above.
Some FAQs: Can you fit indoors? Absolutely! That’s part of what makes our Cushman truck so versatile. Sally is 9 x 6 x 4. Are you willing to travel? We currently travel up to 50 miles round trip for no extra charge. If your location if farther than 50 miles, we do have a small travel fee.
Contact and more info: Fill out the contact form on their website, or email cheers@thirdwheeltap.com.
TAMPA BAY | CENTRAL GULF COAST | SOUTH GULF COAST
TAMPA TO NAPLES
Vintage Italian Piaggio Mini Mobile Bar / Naples – Fort Myers area
Type of business: Mobile bar serving beer, wine, Prosecco, mimosas, and more.
Vintage vehicle: Piaggio Ape named Honey.
Backstory: With three daughters (ages 10, 12, and 13) owner Rachel felt that her demanding job working corporate cyber security sales was keeping her from family time, so she took the leap to start her own business. She saw many fun little businesses of this type in San Diego, New York and Philly and thought it would be a great business to run while homeschooling her daughters (especially during the Pandemic.) She found the Piaggio in Sarasota, for sale by a couple who had imported her from Italy and done most of the build out on their own, which took 18 months. The Pandemic forced them to close down, and in the meantime their lives went in a different direction, luckily for Rachel’s family. The only rehab they had to do was a new paint job. Rachel is the queen bee, her husband is the hub-bee, and the kids are the worker bees!
Some FAQs: What’s on tap? If it’s in a keg, we can serve it! Our mobile bar has three taps capable of pouring craft beer, wine, cocktails, Prosecco, cold brew, Kombucha, and more. Do you serve non-alcoholic drinks? Yes, we are not limited to just booze! Kombucha, soda, Italian soda, and cold-pressed juice which is perfect for brunch events.
Contact and more info: Fill out the contact form on the website, or email QueenBee@BubblyBeeSWFL.com, or call 602-690-9969.
Also in the Tampa Bay/ Gulf Coast area:
Banyan Coffee Co. – Mobile Coffee Truck (former hotdog vendor truck) in St. Petersburg
Gathering info for our article, and talking to these enterprising, energetic and just amazingly nice people who are running these creative small businesses was such a joy for me. We believe that “a rising tide floats all the boats” (not sure who said that, but I’m borrowing) and we will always promote independently owned businesses here in sunny Florida. We’re all in this together, and aren’t we having so much fun?
If I’ve overlooked anyone, please let me know!
