Zhanpo (“Popo”) Lu wanted to bring more food variety to Waterville, and in May 2025, she did just that by opening the region’s first dedicated food truck park. The Waterville Food Truck Park features six rotating food trucks and operates seven days a week. It’s home to more than 20 vendors offering everything from Thai and Caribbean cuisine to barbecue and baked goods.
Popo, along with her husband, Jay, also owns and operates Jay’s Dumpling Truck, which serves traditional Chinese steamed and boiled dumplings. They focus on serving customers freshly cooked dumplings and buns, offering hot and delicious meals every time.
When Popo first connected with Maine SBDC, she was exploring a completely different business idea. Through conversations with Business Advisor Christina Dodge, she refined her concept and aligned it with both her strengths and the needs of the community. Together, they worked through business planning, grant applications, financing, and the city’s licensing process. Christina’s support helped Zhanpo stay focused and confident through every stage.
“Christina helped me with everything,” Popo said. “Guided me to set up the LLC, to apply for funds, to do all the processes I needed to do.”
Since opening, the park has gained a following of more than 6,000 on social media and welcomes a steady stream of customers each day. “This is our very first year—in fact, our fourth month—and we’re truly delighted by the community’s response,” Popo said. “We’re proud to provide a place where people can enjoy great food, and we’ll keep working hard to improve. In the future, we hope to build it into a space with tables and seating, where people can gather and connect.”
Popo takes pride in helping other small business owners launch their own food trucks and giving locals access to global flavors, all in one place. Looking ahead, her goal is simple: “We will have more customers, and I am hoping the park will be full of trucks every day.” With determination and a growing customer base, Popo is building more than a business—she’s building a food-focused community.