We had the good fortune of connecting with Jay Holman and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jay, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
The thought process behind starting my own business was a combination of needs and wants. I needed to create more income and the problem was what I wanted that to look like. I bounced a few ideas around, but nothing really hit me until I got to my business partner. He helped with the brainstorming and together we produced the concept of 615 Soul Food. He liked to cook I liked to eat so it was just a natural idea process. But I also like to cook and cooked southern comfort food my whole life, so I told him to let us do it. He liked my idea of American Creole Fusion. This was interesting in that we wanted to have food that was convenient, but tasty food made with a creole flare. Our menu has worked with that concept and that is why our food truck idea took off. He and I brainstormed the logo and the type of food we would sale and I ran with that idea. I kept the original concepts and made the food taste great. We started 615 Soul Food in 2022 and have now been in full operations for 2 years after the pandemic. We had to weigh options of startup cost of store front and the food truck concept the food truck was more accessible in the short term. It would give us feedback on if we wanted to invest in an actual brick and mortar restaurant. We went through all the thought processes of forming the business and made the best decision we could at the time.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
615 Soul Food is a food truck located in downtown Nashville, Tennessee. We started 3 years ago during the pandemic. But actually, opened in fall of 2022. It is a bright yellow food trailer and has a sign on top 615. The food we offer is different because we cook fresh to order and all of it is seasoned with creole spices. We make juicy 100% all beef burgers and fries. Our #1 seller is the seafood Louisiana authentic gumbo. Our gumbo is made with creole seasonings, chicken, turkey sausage, shrimp, and crab legs. We make fresh wings to order 6pcs Southside or 8pcs Firebird wings. Our menu items are named after things you can find in any city. The name of our cheeseburger is the East Side Bacon Cheeseburger. Why because every city town or place has an east, north, south, and west direction. We are from Music City right so it is only right that our gumbo be named Music City because when you taste it you can hear good music in your head it’s that good. Our food truck is a labor of love we used what we had and made something out of nothing. We did not know anything about the food truck business before opening one. We are still learning and improving with each year. This past year our biggest accomplishment was taking the food truck on the road. We went all the way to South Bend, Indiana and served TSU and Notre Dame fans at that historical game. It was a wonderful experience, and we learned a lot while on the journey. We also made our official debut at TSU homecoming in Nashville, Tennessee. Our success comes from continuity. We just keep going out there and putting our best foot forward. We do not let the small challenges that come with operating a food truck distract us from our mission which is to serve good food to as many people as possible.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Nashville, Tennessee is Music City USA and if you come here this is the night I would have. I first go to Helen’s on Jefferson Street and get me some of that hot chicken. I would then take a walk on lower Broadway, and I would go to Sound Stage and catch some live band there. I am a sports girl so definitely catch a football game while I was in the city if possible. Vandy, TSU, or Pearl Cohn. I would not miss the opportunity to go to Monell’s for a breakfast brunch that will have you ready for the walk around Centennial Park. If you’re into shopping, then Green Hills mall is just the place it has Nordstroms. You cannot come to Nashville, and not visit the Grand Ole Opry and Opry Mills Mall they go hand and hand. I like history and the African American Music Museum is a must see. The Adventure Science Center has a planetarium, and the kids would really love that visual. The bi-centennial mall has a farmers’ market full of fresh locally sourced ingredients and many new pop of food spots all owned by locals. Nashville has so many things to get into, but these are my favorite places to frequent and each time I go I find something different and I have lived in Nashville, a very long time.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Orlando Pender Jr and Orlando Pender III without their support and assistance 615 Soul Food would be difficult to run. These 2 men encourage and support the business by helping with anything 615 Soul Food may need during operations. The food truck couldn’t operate if it didn’t have a sufficient place for parking and storage. Mr. Catfish Pender, respectfully called in the community, is our go to person for gas and water. Things that run out like food items and drinks he is the man we can count to make the store runs he also is security when I close down at night. They both protect the food truck. They are also my inspirations because they run a successful business themselves and still find the extra time to support and assist, They are my true riders, and I couldn’t have survived without the things they provide me with during the initial start up phases. They allowed me to manage my costs and be able to run until I created a profit, and I couldn’t ask for a better support team and business mentors. They have 30 years of experience in running a successful business in Nashville, Tennessee Catfish Moving Company. Motto: “We Move America”. I just want to serve America great tasting southern creole classic foods.

Website: https://615soulfood.square.site/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/615soulfood/

Other: 415 31st Ave. N Nashville, TN 37209

Image Credits
Autumnskye Productions

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