Here at Tap Truck USA, we take great pride in our many branches that help us continue to grow and promote our core values. Each month we like to give a special shoutout to one of our extraordinary branches to recognize all of their hard work and dedication that make Tap Truck USA what it is today. This month we invite you to get to know Tap Truck Buffalo!
Out in Buffalo, Paige Huetter is killing the game with her sweet 1950 Ford Stake Bed Truck named ‘Frankie’. Paige jokes that “while she’s a beauty on the outside, she’s a bit of a Frankenstein of parts on the inside”! Running on a 350 Chevy engine with a rebuilt transmission, exhaust manifolds from a ‘79 Corvette, brakes from an old Bronco, GMC rear end, and a new rear differential from a ‘59 Impala, Frankie captures both the spark and aesthetics of the Tap Truck USA name!
Born and raised in Buffalo, Paige has always dreamed of owning her own business. She envisioned a life where she could be an active parent while also pursuing a fun and exciting career.
Paige first heard of Tap Truck USA through her husband after attending her brother’s wedding in Charleston, South Carolina. Taking a break from all of the pre-wedding festivities, she decided to go for a brisk stroll where she came across a boozy ice pop trailer. Fascinated with the concept of selling alcohol popsicles out of an automobile, she began researching in her spare time all of the different mobile bar options available to her in Buffalo. Her husband then came across the Tap Truck San Diego location and she immediately found her calling.
After a few conversations with the Tap Truck USA Co-owner, Corbin O’Reilly, in October 2020 she pursued her lifelong goal, teaming up with her mom Lynn, and set out to make a name for Tap truck USA within the Western New York community, in March 2021. In her own words, “I knew it would be the perfect fit. I love beer. And I love old trucks. What could be better?”.
Since she began with Tap Truck USA in 2021, she has provided top-quality service from the Pennsylvania line to the shores of Lake Ontario. Including the eight counties of Western New York: Erie, Wyoming, Chautauqua, Niagara, Ontario, Genesee, Orleans, and Allegheny!
Tap Truck Buffalo has great relationships with many breweries in the area, bringing tasty beer everywhere they go with Frankie! Some of their favorite brewers in the Buffalo area are Big Ditch (Downtown Buffalo), Windy Brew (Strykersville), Thin Man (Elmwood), Community Brew Works (Downtown Buffalo), Southern Tier Brewing (Buffalo), 12 Gates Brewing (Williamsville), 42 North (East Aurora), Other Half (Downtown Buffalo), Resurgence (Downtown Buffalo)! Buffalo’s most popular selling beer is the Big Ditch Hayburber IPA. With its beautiful balance of citrus flavor and hops, this beer will make you feel like you’re sitting by a lake on a warm summer day.
Not only does Tap Truck Buffalo have strong relationships with breweries, but they also have great connections with cideries to ensure that everyone’s flavor palettes are met. They go straight to the cider master, Eddie Graves from Clarksburg Cider Co. based in Lancaster, New York. For example, Paige wanted a special beverage for a special Kentucky Derby event, Tap Truck Buffalo would be catering. She pitched the idea of a Mint Julep Hard Cider to Eddie Graves, and he ran with it!
With plenty of breweries and cideries to work with, Paige and her Tap Truck Frankie can work alongside many local businesses to showcase what they do best. Growing up in the village of East Aurora (15 minutes southeast of Buffalo), Tap Truck Buffalo can truly capitalize on the market as they have no open container law, allowing them to participate in pop-up events! Paige describes these as one of her favorite events that let her see the genuine satisfaction on people’s faces as they grab a nice cold beer and blissfully peruse!
Along with pop-ups, Paige loves to grease the wheels and ride shotgun with Frankie serving beer to all of those in the Western New York area! As she describes it, “my favorite events with the truck are any event with the truck. I love seeing people’s faces when we pull up. The conversations we have around it, people wanting to check out what’s under the hood, all of it. It makes my heart happy to see people loving what we do”.
Tap Truck Buffalo has big plans on the way for 2023! As they continue to grow and expand in the craft brew scene they are actively on the hunt for a second truck that fits the vibe and brand they’ve uniquely built out in Buffalo. They currently offer four different types of event packages; ‘The 716’, ‘The Shout’, ‘A Little Bit Louder Now’, and ‘Let’s Go Buffalo’. Each package comes fully equipped with disposable cups, a minimum of two bartenders, two bar areas, waste bins, and three non-alcoholic beverages to fully meet the needs of those who attend their events! Combine this with a long list of mentionable add-ons and Tap Truck Buffalo knows just how to knock your socks off!
From all of us at Tap Truck USA, we are proud to call Tap Truck Buffalo a member of our family! Their ambition, top-quality service, and love for vintage trucks and beer are truly what makes Tap Truck Buffalo’s operations so successful. We are beyond lucky to have Paige Huetter and her team a part of our squad, we know they are going to accomplish all of their goals and grow their Tap Truck business.
Be sure to stay up to date with their travels by following them on Facebook and Instagram and if you’re in the Buffalo area, reach out to Tap Truck Buffalo to see Frankie and enjoy a delectable variety of beverages at your next event!
As always, if you're interested in becoming your very own mobile bar boss, click here and learn more about the exciting business opportunity we have for you!
Until next time, cheers!