At the Cortez Plaza’s parking lot on a late July morning, the sun’s heat baked outside Philly Cristos’ food trailer. Meat for a couple of Philly cheesesteak sandwiches could be heard sizzling on the trailer’s flat commercial grill as cheese melted on top.
Owner Micah DeMars, 40, opened Philly Cristos in early July, and business has been going strong ever since.
He has parked his trailer, decked out with skateboard stickers and paying homage to his old skating days, at softball games, Big R and Mancos’ Fenceline Cider. He also was asked to cater to Osprey Packs’ company party for about a 100 people.
DeMars was fed up with working for other people and wanted to work for himself. Since he’s had experience working in kitchens, like Blondie’s and Main Street Brewery, he knew he had a creative flair that enhances the food he cooks up.
“I’ve always made stuff up with a twist,” he said when he spoke about the Southwest Chicken Monte Cristo.
The sandwich has chicken, green chiles and pepper jack cheese served on Italian white bread with mustard, black currant jelly and cayenne pepper. It’s battered in eggs and fried like French toast.
Ever since opening, he’s been selling cheesesteaks to the community without much of a break. While at the Cortez Plaza parking lot that one July morning, a line formed during the lunch hour.
“What’s looking good for you today, Ma’am?” he asked a woman who began the line. “What’s standing out the most?”
She needed a few minutes to decide and ended up with two classics – thinly sliced steak, veggies and American cheese grilled on a hoagie.
One order usually takes eight to 10 minutes to cook.
At the Montezuma County Fair, he had to turn people away since the business is mostly a one-man show, although his 16-year-old son helps out at times by taking orders.
Even though he opened up last month, he started the business in August 2022. Like any business, a great deal needs to happen before the big launch: saving money, applying for a limited liability company, opening bank accounts and securing a trailer.
In fact, he took a nine-day road trip to Tampa Bay where he bought the trailer and trekked it all the way back to Cortez. But he still had to wait for the inspection after he installed kitchen equipment in the mobile scullery.
Once he opened up, business has been good and intense.
“The first day was a good start. The second day it was hard to keep up,” he said. “The third, fourth and fifth day was unbelievable.”
Reflecting on the nine-day trip, he mentioned he made up the Southwest Chicken Monte Cristo while hauling the trailer home from Florida.
“I didn’t even try it for the first several days I was selling it,” he said. “Then one night me and my son decided to cook one and split it in half. It’s really delicious, like it’s so different.”
On his days off, which aren’t many, he’s a simple guy who enjoys bowling, playing horseshoes and hanging out with his kids and Dottie – his 5½-year-old pit bull.
He also tries to relax as much as possible and drive in the mountains away from cellphone service where he can spot wildlife and soak in the views.
Although his locations differ day to day, he notifies people where he’ll be on Montezuma County Food Trucks’ Facebook page, where he also expresses gratitude for the strong support community members have given him.
“I really appreciate the support from the community and from my friends,” he said. “I wasn’t sure how it was gonna go or how it would be.”
