Building the 1st Takoyaki Kei Kitchen Truck in USA
Donation protected
Hi everyone, this is Karl from KARLSBALLS Takoyaki. This year for my birthday, July 1, I was lucky to discover a rare Kei (KEI = Small) Kitchen Truck being imported to USA from Osaka, Japan. It is a 1994 Daihatsu HiJet S100 that was a retired Fried Chicken food truck. Knowing how rare it was to find one in USA, albeit low miles and in good condition as well as looking at ways to expand the Takoyaki business due to high demand, I immediately applied for a small loan of $4500 with addition of $2000 from my savings to put a down payment on the vehicle.
The sellers were kind enough to allow me to work off the balance for the summer. Every event we are cooking, we are allocating profits to slowly pay off the remaining $6500, and then the vehicle will be 100% ours.
In order to complete the full project, there are many things that need to be purchased, upgraded and or fabricated, since this vehicle is one of a kind and the only one in the USA. Here is a list of things needing to be purchased and fabricated in order to make Ballmobile complete and ready to go at 100%:
1). Order 2 new grills Japan along with 2 extra sets of cooking plates. (For a total of 3 sets) Each grill will be able to cook 50 pieces (a total of 100 pieces) in about 15 minutes.
2). Extra Takoyaki utensils: oil brushes, Takoyaki picks, ladles
Fabricate a custom stainless steel counter top and shelving to cook on top of.
3). A very complete security system (alarm, cameras, wifi, small LCD monitor)
4). Back up camera with monitor
5) 2000w Solar generator for sustainable electric. Panels to be installed on top
6). Upgraded wheels and tires to withstand NYC potholes
7). Fabricate hand wash sink
8). Potable water system
9). Upgraded headlamps
10). Fix 2 exhaust fans
11). Install interior LED lighting
12). Install fans to keep staff cool
13). Upgrade the flooring for water proofing (truck bed liner or Diamond-plating)
14). Fix the glass windows
15). Replace outside shelf (on passenger side that broke during the shipping process)
16). New stereo system
17). Reupholster seats
18). Vinyl wrap with bright Yellow KARLSBALLS Tent Theme
19). Garage storage
Most of our earnings this year has been spent on very high ingredient costs, employee wages and medical bills to my neck and back ($300 a week, totaling over $1200 a month)
There are only less than a handful of Takoyaki businesses in the USA, and our goal is to promote takoyaki culture nationwide with the love and support of our customers as well as from fans and organizations overseas. Having a truck like this will able to help KARLSBALLS Takoyaki cook all year round as well as collaborate with local businesses to provide them with Takoyaki on their menu, and curate private events.
Our last phase is to upgrade our work van, a 2014 Nissan NV200 Small Cargo Van to a larger one (Ford Transit 350 HD) so we can trailer and transport Ballmobile, in addition to our crew and equipment in order to cook at venues all over the United States.
KARLSBALLS Takoyaki has been operating over 7 years in NYC. Starting with small street fairs, to now being the official Takoyaki vendor for Japan Fes, NYC Comic Con, to Anime NYC, we garnered a reputation for being one of the most popular and unique street food vendors in NYC. We’ve been featured on NHK/BS1 News in Japan, The Cooking Channel, VICE, Buzzfeed, Travel Thirsty, as well as many food blogs, and are a sponsor of the New York Asian Film Festival, as well as a returning and featured vendor for The Food Film Festivsal.
Many of our customers have been asking for us to have a more permanent location, and although having a brick and mortar location would be ideal, we know that the costs to operate one would drastically cut the quality of our already high ingredient cost. Having a mobile vehicle will still provide us with low overhead costs, so we can maintain the high quality Takoyaki we are known for. The sooner we can have our Gofundme fully funded, the sooner we can start building the Ballmobile and the sooner we can cook for you all year round!
Please help achieve our dreams!
Karl
The sellers were kind enough to allow me to work off the balance for the summer. Every event we are cooking, we are allocating profits to slowly pay off the remaining $6500, and then the vehicle will be 100% ours.
In order to complete the full project, there are many things that need to be purchased, upgraded and or fabricated, since this vehicle is one of a kind and the only one in the USA. Here is a list of things needing to be purchased and fabricated in order to make Ballmobile complete and ready to go at 100%:
1). Order 2 new grills Japan along with 2 extra sets of cooking plates. (For a total of 3 sets) Each grill will be able to cook 50 pieces (a total of 100 pieces) in about 15 minutes.
2). Extra Takoyaki utensils: oil brushes, Takoyaki picks, ladles
Fabricate a custom stainless steel counter top and shelving to cook on top of.
3). A very complete security system (alarm, cameras, wifi, small LCD monitor)
4). Back up camera with monitor
5) 2000w Solar generator for sustainable electric. Panels to be installed on top
6). Upgraded wheels and tires to withstand NYC potholes
7). Fabricate hand wash sink
8). Potable water system
9). Upgraded headlamps
10). Fix 2 exhaust fans
11). Install interior LED lighting
12). Install fans to keep staff cool
13). Upgrade the flooring for water proofing (truck bed liner or Diamond-plating)
14). Fix the glass windows
15). Replace outside shelf (on passenger side that broke during the shipping process)
16). New stereo system
17). Reupholster seats
18). Vinyl wrap with bright Yellow KARLSBALLS Tent Theme
19). Garage storage
Most of our earnings this year has been spent on very high ingredient costs, employee wages and medical bills to my neck and back ($300 a week, totaling over $1200 a month)
There are only less than a handful of Takoyaki businesses in the USA, and our goal is to promote takoyaki culture nationwide with the love and support of our customers as well as from fans and organizations overseas. Having a truck like this will able to help KARLSBALLS Takoyaki cook all year round as well as collaborate with local businesses to provide them with Takoyaki on their menu, and curate private events.
Our last phase is to upgrade our work van, a 2014 Nissan NV200 Small Cargo Van to a larger one (Ford Transit 350 HD) so we can trailer and transport Ballmobile, in addition to our crew and equipment in order to cook at venues all over the United States.
KARLSBALLS Takoyaki has been operating over 7 years in NYC. Starting with small street fairs, to now being the official Takoyaki vendor for Japan Fes, NYC Comic Con, to Anime NYC, we garnered a reputation for being one of the most popular and unique street food vendors in NYC. We’ve been featured on NHK/BS1 News in Japan, The Cooking Channel, VICE, Buzzfeed, Travel Thirsty, as well as many food blogs, and are a sponsor of the New York Asian Film Festival, as well as a returning and featured vendor for The Food Film Festivsal.
Many of our customers have been asking for us to have a more permanent location, and although having a brick and mortar location would be ideal, we know that the costs to operate one would drastically cut the quality of our already high ingredient cost. Having a mobile vehicle will still provide us with low overhead costs, so we can maintain the high quality Takoyaki we are known for. The sooner we can have our Gofundme fully funded, the sooner we can start building the Ballmobile and the sooner we can cook for you all year round!
Please help achieve our dreams!
Karl
Organizer
Karl Palma
Organizer
New York, NY
