A concept that started as a Fort Collins food cart in 2019 is now staking a claim in downtown Loveland.
Jake Gargano and Megan Gunter, the duo behind the Fork Yeah! food truck and Big Fork grill, are turning the former Ball Joint on North Garfield Avenue into the next outpost of their burgeoning food empire.
“So we’re going to change the buildings. We’re applying for permits. We’re trying to figure out how we want everything to look,” Gargano said as he showed off the building on Thursday. “And the backyard is actually kind of cool.”
Gargano and Gunter are wrapping up their first year running the Big Fork grill in the renovated clubhouse at the city’s Olde Course Golf Course, where they serve their signature hamburgers and Chicago-style hot dogs, plus much more.
Mark Esoda, the city’s director of golf operations, said that Gargano and Gunter have been a “joy” to work with at Big Fork and have made his job easier over the past year.
“I can’t say enough good things about Megan and Jake,” he said. “They’re just consistently good. They come up with their own ideas on how to increase business and they’re not afraid to try new things.”
Andrea Sheldon, the longtime golf business manager, concurred with Esoda and added that the pair and Big Fork have provided great service not just to course patrons, but also the local community.
“They brought in live music, they did bingo night, they had Easter egg hunts and they had pumpkin carving,” Sheldon said. “…I really appreciate their ingenuity and their willingness to say, hey, let’s give this a try.”
Gargano and Gunter are now putting that ingenuity into the new space. Though construction has yet to begin, the pair are taking advantage of downtime at the course to plan and make preparations in the 120-year-old former residence at 434 N. Garfield Ave. They have already acquired a liquor license and settled on a 1980’s theme.
However, the two haven’t quite decided whether Fork Yeah! or Big Fork will be the permanent name, though they are leaning toward the latter.
The new spot will have the same full menu and bar selections as Big Fork, Gargano explained, plus a rotation of items aimed at the downtown working crowd.
“We’re going for fast and we’re going to try to do $5 lunch specials,” he said.
The new Fork will also be selling ice cream and other inexpensive items in a bid to be “not just a bar.”
“There are a lot of schools around here, so we wanted to do ice cream. We want to make it a fun little hangout for kids after school,” Gargano said.
The two are also busy making plans for the spacious patio behind the building, and envision hosting live music and other events out there during the warmer months.
“We’re just so excited to get it open and make a little spot for the community for hanging out,” Gunter said. “I can’t wait.”
The two are hopeful of completing their renovations and opening up the space by Memorial Day in May.
Meanwhile, Gargano and Gunter are preparing for their second year at the Olde Course, along with another year at Cattail Creek golf course with Little Fork, a smaller food truck. This summer, they are also planning to roll out a new stand that will serve fresh squeezed lemonade made with a custom juicer.
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