Dyersburg, TN – June 20, 2025 – Each week, The Mill Workspace hosts Food Truck Friday. This week’s feature is all about bold burgers, deep roots, and a business born from one big decision. Sweets and Slug Burgers, owned and operated by Stacey and John Darnell of Jackson, TN, is serving up slug burgers, smash burgers, homemade sweets, and so much more.
The idea sparked during a cruise vacation in May 2024. John, a long-time restaurant worker, missed the kitchen. Stacey, then in car sales, was willing to do anything as long as she was with him.
“I had just lost my mom the year before, and decided that life was too short,” said Stacey. “By the time we got back to work the next week, we had already bought the truck.”
By June, they were up and running, and they haven’t stopped yet.
The truck’s name, Sweets and Slug Burgers, pays tribute to their menu and their roots. Slug burgers are a Mississippi original, where John is from, and are made from pork, flour, and seasonings.
“They date back to the Great Depression when they only cost a nickel, or a ‘slug’,” Stacey explained.
The burger itself isn’t for everyone, she admitted. It has a distinct flavor, but for those who know it's a classic.
“You can tell who knows about them,” Stacey said. “I've seen people turn their car around after seeing the ‘slug burger’ sign on the truck.”
“Sweets” reflects the other side of their extensive menu—John’s baked goods, which are famous among their friends and family during the holidays. Now, customers can get a taste of that tradition year-round.
Stacey and John run the truck entirely on their own, usually working six days a week. John handles the kitchen, while Stacey manages orders and chats with customers.
The menu blends comfort food classics with bold flavors. Stacey’s favorite is the Double Smash Burger with cheese sticks. John’s top pick is the specialty burger called the Big John Burger. It’s a tray-sized burger loaded with banana peppers, jalapeños, onions, cheese, and all the traditional fixings, all folded into a tortilla. Nearly everything they serve is seasoned with their custom spice blend. You won’t taste anything like it.
Despite the long hours and daily hustle, Stacey says what makes it all worth is simple—doing what they love and doing it together.
“My favorite part of owning a small business is getting to be with John every day,” she said.
Whether you’re craving a smash burger, curious about trying a slug burger, or in the mood for a sweet treat, Sweets and Slug Burgers has you covered, with their extensive menu and a hardworking duo behind the window, this food truck is well worth a visit.
To keep up with the latest locations and menu items for the Sweet and Slug Burgers food truck follow them on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61559585863126.
Sweet and Slug Burgers is one of many food truckers you can find on the Street Food Finder [SFF] app. SFF is an application designed to connect food lovers with their favorite food trucks. By simply opening the app, the user will be able to see all the trucks that are operating within twenty-five miles of their current location. They will also be able to see the schedule for the trucks and the schedule of registered locations along with menus and other contact information.
Truckers can sign up by visiting: https://streetfoodfinder.com/signup.
About The Mill Workspace: The Mill Workspace, a DBA of Northwest Tennessee Entrepreneurship, Inc. is a nonprofit 501(c)3 entrepreneur center located in Dyersburg, TN and focused on serving entrepreneurs in the nine counties of Northwest Tennessee. They help businesses through one-on-one counseling, workshops, and multi-week programs all designed to help businesses in the region start up and grow.
Programs at The Mill are funded in part by a grant from LaunchTN.
