If you've been to Lake Elmo in the last month, you may have noticed a large truck parked in the middle of the north parking lot. If you've been near the truck, there's a pretty good chance you've met Michael Kenney. The 25-year-old owns and operates Michael's Brown Bag Express Snack Shack, a lunch-and-snack business, out of his converted step van, providing treats to park visitors.
He is quick to greet customers and sports a genuine smile when doing so. He laughs a lot, and it makes a trip to his business just a little bit more enjoyable. "I hope people like it as much as I do.
" So far, people seem to enjoy having the Snack Shack at Lake Elmo. The Snack Shack serves hotdogs, ice cream, drinks and other assorted snacks seven days a week. A hot dog and soda or an ice cream bar are available for just a few dollars, and unusual snacks such as taco boats, where the ingredients are mixed together with chips in a shallow paper dish, are on hand as well.
On a Sunday in early June, there was so much business that Kenney and employee Kenny Johnson ran out of food before the end of the day. "People have responded great so far," Johnson said. Michael's Brown Bag Express Snack Shack is the result of several years' worth of work by Kenney and his parents, Karen and Dan Kenney.
Michael was born seven weeks premature and, as a result, developed cerebral palsy. The condition is caused by brain injury during pregnancy, infancy or early childhood. It affected his vision, speech and movement to the point where he needs help with many day-to-day activities and the assistance of a motorized wheelchair to get around.
After graduating from Skyview High in 2001, Kenney and his family started looking for employment opportunities that matched his skills as well as his disability. He has been involved with Support and Techniques for Empowering People, or STEP, and Community Option Resource Enterprises Inc., or COR.
The organizations provide assistance and career development for people with disabilities. Kenney spent time in various workshops and other jobs through STEP and COR Enterprises, but the Kenneys wanted to do something else. "We were trying to make it something that would be pretty self-sufficient," Karen Kenney said.
"Our goal is for him to have a job and pay for the helper that's with him. He won't be just a consumer." A year and a half ago, Michael's Brown Bag Express Snack Shack was born.
Kenney had worked at concession stands while attending Castle Rock Middle School and loved the social aspect of the job. He was good at dealing with customers and knew the ins and outs of a concession business. Johnson had worked with Kenney through his involvement with both STEP and COR Enterprises, and the two became friends.
Johnson was soon hired to help run the business. "It's a really great opportunity for him," Johnson said. "Usually for people with Michael's disabilities, it's just workshops.
" Kenney bought a step van and went about the process of converting it to fit his needs. The van was gutted and put back together "like a mobile home," Karen Kenney said. A refrigerator, stove and generator were added, and the back of the van was altered to allow easy access for Kenney He started parking the van at several locations around town, including STEP and Roscoe Steel, but didn't generate the business he wanted.
So, last November, he started looking for new locations and decided to try to land a spot at Lake Elmo. He lives in the Heights, and, during the spring and summer months, the area has a steady stream of potential customers. "There were a lot of hoops to jump through," Kenney said.
"We had to sign a contract with Fish and Game that we'd be out here every day, weather-permitting." He also had to make sure the business met state and health department regulations, as well as raise money to get the new business running again. With assistance from his family and the help of some discretionary funds from the state, Kenney was able to do so.
Michael's Brown Bag Express Snack Shack opened for business again on Memorial Day and Kenney is enjoying the work. He loves the social side of his job, talking with dozens of different people each day. "My favorite part is eating the food," he joked.
Kenney said the hardest parts of running the business don't have anything to do with paperwork or worrying about inventory. "It's waiting for new customers," he said. "And getting up so early every morning.
" Contact Zach Benoit at zbenoit@billingsgazette.com or 657-1241. Published on Friday, June 29, 2007.
Last modified on 6/29/2007 at 1:17 am Copyright The Billings Gazette, a division of Lee Enterprises. Billingsgazette.com encourages readers to engage in civil conversation with their neighbors.
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