HUSTLE, HEART & HERITAGE
Driven by Flavor, Powered by Purpose
Hustlin Hen™ is more than just Charlotte’s premier food truck—we are a movement on wheels. As the bold, mobile extension of the legendary Original Chicken & Ribs (OCAR), we bring decades of culinary heritage and soul-satisfying flavor directly to the streets, office parks, and festivals of the Queen City.
OUR ROOTS:
SEVENTY YEARS OF FLAVOR & FAMILY
The story of the Hustlin Hen doesn't begin on the road—it begins in 1952 on Beatties Ford Road. For over seven decades, Original Chicken & Ribs (OCAR) has been a cornerstone of Charlotte’s historical Washington Heights neighborhood, serving up more than just meals; we’ve been serving a community.
Founded by the Blackmon family, OCAR built its reputation on "neighborly service" and a simple, cooked-to-order concept that has satisfied generations of Charlotteans. From our iconic Fat Boy Burger to our signature fried chicken and ribs, our flavors have deep roots in the Queen City—so deep that our legacy was even recognized in the historic Green Book during the 1960s.
Today, the Hustlin Hen takes that rich heritage and puts it on wheels. We aren't just a food truck; we are the mobile heartbeat of a three-generation legacy, bringing the same "urban flare" and soul-satisfying recipes from our kitchen to your street.
MEET THE FOUNDER:
HUSTLE IN THE BLOOD
For Jermaine Blackmon, the hustle is a family tradition. As a third-generation owner of Original Chicken & Ribs, Jermaine grew up in the heart of Washington Heights, witnessing firsthand how a local business can uplift a neighborhood. The restaurant is so central to his story that his own parents even worked there together before "Holy Matrimony" and he was there in the back office as a toddler!
Inspired by the "neighborly service" established by his grandfather, Otis "Mr. B." Blackmon and mom, Delores "Lois" Miller, Jermaine launched the Hustlin Hen to expand that impact and legacy. His vision was simple: take the world-class flavors he inherited and use them as a vehicle for community change.
By combining OCAR’s legendary menu with a bold mission to remain community focused, Jermaine is ensuring that the family business does more than just feed the city—it builds it. When you see the Hustlin Hen on the streets of Charlotte, you’re seeing seventy years of heritage meeting a modern drive to create opportunity for everyone.
