By Laura Peters | News Leader
STAUNTON – The fried chicken and cajun fries will be no more at The Saucy Bird come Nov. 9.
According to a post on the food truck’s Facebook page, the owner Alex Glenn has receive a career opportunity and decided to close up shop.
“I have been given a great career opportunity. It’s an opportunity that wasn’t expected, but it’s one that was made possible through my work on the food truck,” the post said. “I will dearly miss working The Saucy Bird and talking with all of my wonderful customers, but I had to make a very difficult decision with my best interests in mind. Thank you everyone for this experience. Through the good and the bad, this has been amazing.”
Glenn opened his food truck in 2017.
He grew up in Staunton, graduated from Robert E. Lee High School in 2007 and later went to college at Blue Ridge Community College and Bridgewater College. During his time in high school and college he worked in restaurants. He spent that time saving up money and cementing a business plan.
His truck, The Saucy Bird, specializes in fried chicken tenders with an array of sauces he makes himself. He, along with girlfriend Taylor Butler, make fried chicken tender sandwiches, fried chicken tenders and hand cut fries in the 7-by-10 truck.
In 2018, he suffered an ankle injury that required surgery. At that time he announced he would need to close and sell the food truck. Instead, the community rallied around him and raised the funds in order for him to get the surgery and keep the truck open. The effort raised just under $4,500.
“Thank you everyone for a great 2019,” Glenn wrote on the post. “I cannot believe The Saucy Bird has been open for three years. I have so many mixed emotions, and words cannot express the gratitude I owe to each one of you that Taylor and I have proudly served over that time.
“From the breweries in Staunton and Rockbridge, to the home base at the barbershop, I’ve made many friends during this adventure,” the post continued. “That’s why it is so hard for me to step away from this business. I have worked so hard to get noticed, to give everyone an authentic food truck experience. I wanted to serve the best chicken sandwich you’ve ever had, at least that was the daily goal. I built something from nothing and I pride myself on that. You all brought me back from a terrible accident last year and gave me the energy I needed to continue to grow my business. I went in to every shift trying to be better than the last and I hope it showed.”
Final dates include:
- Nov. 1 and Nov. 2 at Man Cave Barbering at 1313 Churchville Ave. in Staunton starting at 11:30 a.m. until sold out
- Nov. 9 at Great Valley Farm at 60 Great Valley Lane in Natural Bridge from 4 to 7:30 p.m.
“Thank you all so much for these wonderful years,” Glenn wrote in the post. “I’ve been able to accomplish dreams and give back in ways I never thought were possible. You have truly been a blessing.”
