Have you ever wondered what it takes to turn a rough past into a thriving future? For one 32-year-old entrepreneur, a felony conviction at 19 could’ve been the end of the road. Instead, it became the spark for a journey that led to a food truck empire generating over $1 million a year. This isn’t just a story of financial success—it’s a testament to resilience, grit, and the power of carving your own path when the world shuts its doors.
The Unlikely Rise of a Food Truck Mogul
Starting a business is tough for anyone, but imagine doing it with a criminal record that makes employers turn you away without a second glance. That’s the reality this young entrepreneur faced. After a troubled youth and a felony charge in college, he found himself unemployable in the corporate world despite earning two degrees. Rejection became his motivator, pushing him to create opportunities where none existed.
His story resonates with anyone who’s ever felt like the odds were stacked against them. I’ve always believed that adversity can be a strange kind of gift—it forces you to think creatively. And that’s exactly what he did, launching a series of businesses that now include a wildly successful food truck in Houston, Texas, called Goodies Soul Kitchen.
A Rough Start: From Felony to First Business
Growing up in Philadelphia, life wasn’t exactly a straight path. Legal troubles began early, with a felony charge for aggravated assault at 19 after a college party gone wrong. Six months in jail and a DUI later, the entrepreneur found himself caught in a cycle of setbacks. Yet, even in those dark moments, he refused to let his past define him.
Despite earning an associate’s degree and a B.A. in business, he applied to over 200 jobs without a single offer. Frustration turned into determination. In 2017, he launched his first venture, a cleaning company, with a childhood friend. Why cleaning? It was simple: low startup costs and no background checks for owners. All it took was some bleach, hot water, and a lot of hustle.
As long as you’ve got some rags and a spray bottle, you can build a business from nothing.
Starting with small jobs, like cleaning his brother’s house, the business grew quickly. A high school football coach helped secure commercial contracts, and by year two, the company was pulling in $12,000 a month. That’s when he realized the power of being the middleman—hiring other cleaning crews to handle the work while he focused on scaling.
Diversifying the Dream: From Cleaning to Real Estate
Success in one area opened doors to others. With profits from the cleaning business, he and his partner bought a pickup truck and started a junk removal company in 2020. Within months, they upgraded to a dump truck, and the new venture brought in over $100,000 in its first year. Not bad for a side hustle, right?
But he didn’t stop there. Using income from both businesses, he began investing in real estate, starting with single-family homes in Philadelphia. Over time, he refinanced properties to buy duplexes and triplexes, building a portfolio of 16 properties that now generate $11,000 a month in profit. Smart investing became his ticket to financial stability.
I find it fascinating how one good decision can snowball into a series of opportunities. Real estate, in particular, feels like a game of chess—each move builds on the last. His ability to leverage one business’s success to fund another shows a keen sense of strategic growth.
A New Chapter in Houston: The Food Truck Venture
By 2024, feeling he’d maxed out his potential in Philly, he relocated to Houston for a fresh start. His first venture there—a nightclub—flopped, costing him $170,000. It’s a reminder that even the most driven entrepreneurs face failures. But instead of dwelling on the loss, he pivoted to something entirely new: the food industry.
With a $40,000 loan, he launched Goodies Soul Kitchen, a food truck serving soul food staples like fried fish, lamb chops, and mac-and-cheese. Despite having almost no restaurant experience (his only gig was a brief stint at a fast-food chain in college), he dove in headfirst. The early days were chaotic—he didn’t even know how to turn on the trailer, and his chef quit a month after opening.
I didn’t know nothing about food, but I had to figure out how to become a chef until I could hire another.
Forced to learn on the fly, he developed recipes and refined his business model. What set Goodies apart wasn’t just the food—it was the experience. He noticed Houston’s late-night food scene was lacking, so he positioned the truck as the go-to spot for clubgoers, operating from 7 p.m. to 3 a.m. in a fixed downtown location.
The Secret Sauce: Service and Systems
What makes a food truck pull in $1 million a year? It’s not just about serving tasty fried chicken. He studied successful chains like Chick-fil-A and Chipotle, realizing that service and systems were the real moneymakers. Consistency, quality, and customer experience became his focus.
Operating four nights a week, Goodies serves around 300 customers weekly, with sales spiking on busy club nights. The truck brought in $20,000 a week during the summer of 2024 and has been profitable since day one. By September 2025, it had already generated over $665,000 in sales for the year, with projections to surpass $1 million again thanks to catering and holiday events.
Here’s where I think he really nailed it: he didn’t try to reinvent the wheel. Instead, he focused on what works—reliable systems and exceptional service. It’s a lesson for any entrepreneur: you don’t need a groundbreaking idea, just a better way of delivering value.
Scaling Up: More Trucks, More Dreams
Riding the wave of Goodies’ success, he launched a second food truck, Birds and Buns, in March 2025, serving hoagies, tacos, and wings. The decision was simple: if one truck could thrive, why not two? He’s now planning to sell his other businesses to double down on hospitality, with dreams of opening a brick-and-mortar sports bar and burger shop.
What’s inspiring here is his clarity of purpose. At 32, he’s found his calling in the hospitality industry. It’s a reminder that sometimes, your true path reveals itself later than you expect, but when it does, it’s worth chasing with everything you’ve got.
Giving Back: A Mission Beyond Profit
Perhaps the most compelling part of his story is his commitment to second chances. Having faced rejection himself, he hires recovering addicts and former felons, judging them on their skills rather than their past. Inclusivity isn’t just a buzzword for him—it’s a core value.
Here, you’re not judged by a paper or a record. You’re judged by your skills.
This approach not only builds a loyal team but also resonates with customers who value businesses with a purpose. It’s a powerful reminder that success isn’t just about money—it’s about making a difference.
Lessons for Aspiring Entrepreneurs
So, what can we learn from this journey? I’ve boiled it down to a few key takeaways that any aspiring business owner can apply:
- Start small, think big: A cleaning business with rags and bleach led to a million-dollar food truck empire.
- Embrace failure: A $170,000 loss on a nightclub didn’t stop him—it fueled his next venture.
- Focus on systems: Success lies in repeatable processes and exceptional customer service.
- Leverage profits: Use one business’s revenue to fund the next, like real estate or a second truck.
- Give back: Building a business with purpose creates loyalty and impact.
These principles aren’t just for food trucks—they apply to any venture. Whether you’re launching a side hustle or dreaming of a full-time business, the key is to keep moving forward, even when the world says no.
The Road Ahead: Goodies to the Moon
With plans for a brick-and-mortar location and a growing food truck empire, this entrepreneur’s story is far from over. His mantra, “choose your hard,” sums it up perfectly. Life throws challenges at everyone—poverty, wealth, failure, success—it’s all hard. The trick is picking the struggle that’s worth it to you.
For him, that struggle is building a legacy in hospitality, one soul food plate at a time. And honestly? I’m rooting for him. There’s something undeniably inspiring about someone who turns a felony into a fortune, not by luck, but by sheer determination.
What’s your “hard”? Are you ready to take a leap, even if the path isn’t clear? This entrepreneur’s journey shows that no matter where you start, the right mindset and a willingness to learn can take you further than you ever imagined. Maybe it’s time to fire up your own food truck—or whatever dream you’ve been putting off.
