Catering a Go Go.

• Author: Newbold, Farrah
• Position: Brief Article

Julie & Jeff Palmer

OWNERS, HAVE PARTY... WILL TRAVEL

In 1991 Julie Palmer was a stockbroker ready to embark on a new career as a certified financial planner. Just when she was about to pay her tuition to return to school in financial planning, husband Jeff, then working at a Costco bakery decided he wanted to pursue his dream of owning a mobile kitchen and going into catering with Julie.

Although Jeff had attended The Culinary Institute of America and was a former chef at La Caille in Salt Lake City, Julie was wary -- she herself had no prior experience in the food industry. "I don't cook. I even burn salad," she quips. But she acquiesced, telling Jeff she'd give the business two years to succeed. If it didn't, she'd head back to financial planning school.

Using Julie's tuition money, the Palmers created their business, Have Party... Will Travel. They redesigned a 24-foot trailer from the ground up to fit their catering needs, and hired two employees.

A decade later, the Palmers have much to show for what was once Julie's tuition money. They operate a thriving mobile catering business, as well as their offshoot company, Mobile Creations, a vehicle for the sales of their customized trailers and mobile kitchens. They also plan to market a race car trailer that will haul up to three cars, contain an elevator, and have a fully heated and air-conditioned workshop.

Have Party... Will Travel's first event included serving prime rib for 35 people. "We worried about it all day," says Julie. "Now a party of 400 is no big deal."

The Palmers' permanent staff of 15 backs up such confidence, with extras hired on an as-needed basis. The couple also owns three semis used to pull their...