HOPKINSVILLE, KY (CHRISTIAN COUNTY NOW) – Fueled by a passion for food and the nostalgic desire to create a welcoming spot in the community, best friends Jason Coy and Eric Hardin have been running the Camo Caravan in Hopkinsville for the past two years.
The road to Camo Caravan began back in 2013, when the two met while stationed at Fort Campbell. At the time they were both culinary artists chosen to lead the bases culinary team for competitions.
“We pretty much clicked right away. We were the two leaders of the team, so we had to collab a lot and spent a lot of hours together,” Coy told Christian County Now. “I really liked the vibe that we had, and we connected.”
Although they ended up getting stationed in different locations for a while, fate brought them back together years later when they both retired in Clarksville. “We called each other up one day and said hey, what’s the next move,” said Coy.
Building a menu
They ultimately decided to put their culinary minds together and create a space where they could put their own fresh spin on the foods they love. “Really we just wanted a spot for us to show our creativity,” Hardin said. “We didn’t know this was going to grow into what it has grown into now.”
While the dishes that come out their kitchen may seem effortless and straightforward, they pride themselves on having high standards for their carefully curated scratch made menu which is both very deliberate and challenging to maintain.
“We are artists in our own way, we want to go back to those olden days. As in going back to the grind of cutting up your own stuff and giving you fresh food and taking pride in what we do,” Coy explained. “We both have passion for this too, it’s one of those things where if you don’t love it, it won’t work for you.” Hardin added.
Freshly ground and balanced meat for burgers, hand cut fries, and original sauces forward their philosophy of using the best ingredients to get the best products.
Their approachable, unique menu mostly echoes their favorite childhood meals. Hardin recalled walking down the street to his favorite mom and pop shop and grabbing a fresh made burger, while Coy recalled his mom bringing home Taco Bell nachos, and the nostalgic flavors that brought him so much joy.
Creating a pillar for the community
Walking into the Camo Caravan feels a bit like walking into a friend’s home. There is a cozy corner with couches and a TV, and the walls are lined with all of the owners’ favorite things. From the start, it was important to both of them that they create a welcoming place for all.
They both recall having a restaurant in their neighborhood growing up where people from every walk of life flocked towards to hang out and catch up, and they strive to be that place for Hopkinsville. In efforts to engage with the community, they continue to sponsor local baseball teams, are involved in youth programs, and recently catered for hundreds of workers at the Walmart distribution center.
Back at the restaurant, Hardin simply enjoys watching people connect with each other over food, with people often talking to other tables and kids playing together.
The duo reflected about when they first opened, and it was just the two of them hustling in the kitchen and trying to do it all, stressing how grateful they are to have found the perfect team. They look forward to welcoming even more people to their restaurant in the years to come. Find out about their hours and menu on the Camo Caravan Facebook page.
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