Owners of 8te Open food truck now have storefront home at former Grown and Gathered at 601 Maine

QUINCY — The 8te Open food truck now has a storefront home.  

Owners Jared and Kim Tipton are bringing life back to the corner of 601 Maine. The former location for Grown and Gathered has sat vacant for more than two years after a plan to convert it into a Pickelman’s Pantry Organic Test Kitchen fell through. The Tiptons will be leasing the building from owner Michelle Wilkerson, the former owner of Grown and Gathered.

Excitement stirred downtown when the Grown and Gathered sign came down. It stirred online as well when Jared couldn’t contain the news and posted it on Facebook. Kim laughed and said he was maybe a little too excited and a little too soon. The actual opening date is still unknown and at least a couple of months out. The Tiptons are working their jobs during the day and working on storefront renovations in the evenings. 

“It’s going to be a process, but it’s going to be worth it,” Jared said.

Tipton started 8te Open in December 2020 and since has been looking for the perfect permanent location.  

The 8te Open business sign went up Saturday, so now the cat is out of the bag and the process is along the way.  Fried chicken sandwiches are Jared’s specialty. He plans to make the corner location the place to go for fried chicken sandwiches and more. Jared and his family look forward to being a part of the Sixth Street Promenade and serving the community their food love – this time without wheels.

The 8te Open food truck is still making appearances at pop up events, including a potential Blues in the Park appearance in August and the Quincy University Balloon Glow event on Sept. 28.