Waffles and wildflowers food truck coming to Kings Mountain

A sweet new food truck is coming to Kings Mountain.

Christy Conner said the food truck, called Little Annie, was inspired by her grandparents and will have a French inspired aesthetic.

Conner, who is recently retired from the city of Kings Mountain, is using her time to pursue new ventures and projects. She said she has a passion for connecting people and bringing the fun to events and she is combing those talents to bring new food choices to the community.

“I can't stay still, retirement for me is not resting, it's about serving and building the community and having time for projects that serve our community,” she said.

She said her mother owns a garden center, called Eva’s Garden Center, on Stony Point Road, and she began helping her with marketing. Eventually, she wanted to expand and complement the business with a new addition.

“I wanted to focus on complementing what we already have and I wanted to do that by honoring my dad’s parents,” Conner said.

She said Annie is her dad’s mother, and she got the idea for doing waffles because, besides her grandma’s cooking, her grandfather’s favorite place to eat is the Waffle House.

“So that's how I was able to honor both of them,” Conner said. “Here the charm of Mawmaw's kitchen meets Pawpaw’s favorite breakfast."

She said the unique mobile food truck is a tribute to the heart and soul of their family.

A six-person team, including Conner, will be running Little Annie, and Conner said they will bring “a whirlwind of excitement, fresh ideas and vibrant energy to create a memorable experience for each and every customer.”

Conner, who is the creative force behind "Little Annie Waffles and Wildflowers," described it as a “unique experience on wheels, blending tasteful delights with a spoonful of charm.”

She said she envisioned a space where customers could shop at the garden center, savor sweet treats, sip drinks and enjoy special activities, all in honor of her grandparents.

A grand opening will be held at Eva’s Garden Center at 736 Oak Grove Road on March 16 at noon.

The grand opening will feature two TikTok stars.

In attendance will be "Glamaw Jessica Earls" from Alabama, who is the author of a cookbook, "Cooking with Glamaw." Conner said people will have a chance to meet Earls and get cookbooks signed "while embarking on a culinary journey you won't soon forget."

Also joining the Little Annie launch party will be Lili Flynn, TikTok influencer from Rutherford County. Conner described Flynn as an influence, wife and mother of three who brings fun and infectious energy wherever she goes and has a heart full of love for Jesus that shines through in everything she does.

In addition to regularly being at the garden center, Conner said Little Annie will be at events in Cleveland and surrounding counties.

She said her 2024 schedule is already filling up fast, and she’ll have it locked in and will announce locations at the grand opening.

“We're really looking forward to it. I've got several more little projects after it, this is kind of the kickstart of it,” she said.

She said they will be offering gourmet waffles on a stick, from classic flavors to bold combinations.

Conner said there will be weekly menu offerings highlighting seasonal and holiday favorites and it will be a changing menu with some structure.

“Stay tuned and come out for the ribbon cutting,” she said.

Conner said she has received a lot of support from friends and family to make it happen, including her mother and her husband who encouraged her, believed in her dreams and helped get it off the ground and her sister, Amanda, who helped use her decorating skills to add the last refinements to the truck.

“Together, we've built something truly special, and we're excited to share it with the world,” she said.

Reporter Rebecca Sitzes can be reached at rsitzes@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on The Shelby Star: Kings Mountain will be welcoming new food truck