TULLAHOMA IS home to many great places to eat, and not all of them can be found in the same place every day. Tullahoma food trucks sell everything from burgers and tacos to barbecue and waffles.
This past year, a new specialty sandwich truck joined the roster. The Sammich Shack opened in May 2023 and flourished with the community’s help. Owner Lisa Womack said she enjoyed cooking and working with the public, and after being unable to work for a time in 2021 due to illness, she decided she did not want to go back to working for other people. Since her kids were grown, she didn’t have much opportunity to cook at home. Starting a food truck was the perfect solution.
“I wanted to do things that [were] going to make me happy, for me to enjoy my life,” Womack said. “Luckily, by the grace of God, this has been great.”
Part of the draw was the idea of making her own hours and working on her own time, but Womack said at the end of the day, it doesn’t really work like that.
“When you get down to it, there’s actually a lot [that goes] into operating a food truck. In order to keep the customers coming and [keep] them happy, you have to stay open,” explains Womack.
While she had worked in restaurants, Womack had not owned or operated one before opening The Sammich Shack. In the end, she said, it is a seven-day-a-week job. The food truck uses homemade sides and sauces, and Womack said a lot of thought goes into where she wants to set up each day.
“You really don’t see the backside of it unless you get in it. It’s a lot of prep time, so even when I’m not open, I’m actually still doing things to get ready for the next day or to get ready for the following week.”
The Sammich Shack offers patty melts, Reubens, and paninis, among other sandwiches. Womack’s favorite menu item is the sloppy joe grilled cheese.
“A lot of the sandwiches you may see somewhere else, but the sloppy joe grilled cheese… that’s mine,” Womack said.
Although the food truck has been open less than a year, it became popular fast — something Womack said she did not expect. Womack didn’t advertise the truck on their first day, hoping to get into the swing of things slowly, but after their first post on Facebook, the community showed up in force.
“The very next day, we sold out,” Womack said, “We had so many people standing and waiting for us to open, and that came throughout the entire day. It was very overwhelming.”
Womack said that thanks to two close friends, her husband, and her customers, The Sammich Shack has been successful. Her friends pushed her to get started, her husband helped set everything up, and the community made the food truck successful.
“I have to thank my customers. I do know that without them, I wouldn’t be where I’m at now.”
Starting a food truck was more than just a whim for Womack and her family. The hard work she has put in to start her business will hopefully pay off for a long time, as she said she wants to be doing just as well, if not better, in one year and all the years following.
“I plan on doing this till I can no longer do it. I’m 47 years old now, and I hope to be able to do this until after retirement.”
We are not guaranteed tomorrow, as Womack said, and it is important to enjoy the life you have. While the work has, at times, been overwhelming, she said it has all been out of joy.
“I’ve absolutely enjoyed every minute of every day we’ve done this truck. I’ve enjoyed working with the public. I can’t complain one bit about any of it,” said Womack. GN
