BBQ Vendor Comes Decked with Spuds and Spices; Aims to Station Business on KC’s Busiest Street
By Taylor Wilmore – June 18, 2024
Welcome to a world where the aroma of Southern flavors melds with the hustle and bustle of Kansas City’s streets. This world can found at the food truck window of Thomas “TC” Clark, nicknamed the “Potatoman,” whose business, T.C.’s FullyLoaded, brings together the bold flavors of Southern and barbecue cuisines atop hot, loaded baked potatoes.
Thomas “TC” Clark preparing an order inside T.C.’s FullyLoaded food truck (photo by Taylor Wilmore)
A Taste of Home in Kansas
Clark, an Alabama native, shifted to Kansas City in 2019 and decided to introduce his home state’s popular barbecue baked potatoes in his new city. The move soon led to the launch of T.C.’s FullyLoaded as a mobile business. The loaded spuds, initially available streetside, will soon make their way into a brick-and-mortar storefront at 1407 Southwest Boulevard that Clark aims to open by October 2024.
The shift to a physical store will make the food truck available exclusively for special events and catering. Clark kicked off his culinary adventure by selling potatoes from his home for two years, a venture initiated by his homesickness and immense love for cooking. Over time, his business bloomed like a potato plant, sprouting connections with music and cultural festivals, corporate events, and universities across Kansas City.
Cajun, BBQ, and a Touch of Seafood
T.C.’s FullyLoaded dishes out a delicacy fondly entitled “The K.C.” — a barbecue baked potato generously topped with burnt ends, cheddar, sour cream, and green onion. Yet, Clark’s delicious offerings don’t end there. Coupling his Southern culinary roots with seafood indulgence, his menu also doles out the “Mr. Krabz,” a crab and shrimp loaded baked potato, and the “NOLA” potato laden with crawfish, andouille sausage, and shrimp, both meticulously doused in his signature cajun creamy sauce.
Cooking Challenges Into Opportunities
Clark’s journey from a home-based operation to a fully fledged food truck wasn’t without hiccups. The initial barrier lied in securing the food truck, which incurred substantial financial commitment and the right set of hands to build. Nevertheless, patience and unyielding determination carried him through, as he passionately ventured into the thick and thin of the culinary world.
Clark’s determination to bring his home’s flavors to Kansas City was not left unnoticed, enjoying unwavering support from his wife, Lauren, and their 9-month-old daughter. Lauren’s input ranges from managing various tasks to adding a sweet touch to the menu with her banana pudding.
An Emblem of Entrepreneurial Spirit
T.C.’s FullyLoaded, with its significant fanbase, which includes more than 12,000 Instagram followers, exudes entrepreneurial spirit. Clark believes this era is primed for aspiring businesspersons and reminds them of the abundant resources available around them.
Thomas “TC” Clark keeping Potato Head toys outside the T.C.’s FullyLoaded food truck (photo by Taylor Wilmore)
Clark’s journey in the culinary world started with a simple wish to recreate his home’s flavors in a new city. Today, it has blossomed into a flourishing business that brings the taste of Alabama to Kansas City, one spud at a time.
