Blazin Coop. | Krishnan Anantharaman
Food trucks can be a convenient—and trendy—way to get a fast meal and support an entrepreneur. They can also be a regular feature at gas stations, even if the surroundings are less than romantic. Many drive off when the snow flies, but Blazin Coop is an exception.
For nearly three years, the business has occupied an increasingly bigger spot at the Shell station at 1800 Plymouth Rd., near the intersection with Broadway. Parked at the east end of the property, the truck is hard to miss. Its exterior features a logo of a panicked cartoon chicken clutching a sandwich and fleeing a coop on fire. It is surrounded by a calmer oasis, with an inviting patio with tables and chairs.
“We do a decent enough job creating a space where you feel like you’re not at a gas station, even though you’re at a gas station,” says manager Joshua Poppink.
Blazin Coop specializes in Nashville-style hot fried chicken, and the meat is halal, a feature that has attracted members of the Islamic Center a few blocks away, says Poppink. Other customers include college students who live near North Campus and motorists who pull in for gas, then spot the trailer. All told, Blazin Coop serves 700 to 800 people per week.
Weather isn’t a deterrent: Blazin Coop has remained open year-round since 2024, only closing when ice and snow create dangerous conditions.
That’s important for its Muslim customers, since the holy month of Ramadan is expected to start on February 7. Observant Muslims fast between sunrise and sunset, which at that time of year happens around 6 p.m.
Since the truck is open from noon to 10 p.m., that would allow four hours of Ramadan dining time. The truck might stay open even later, Poppink says.
Blazin Coop has a brick-and-mortar location in Canton, and Poppink says the company would like to open more shops, but isn’t rushing into an Ann Arbor location.
“The truck is going to be here as long as it needs to be,” he says. “We love the Ann Arbor customers and we’re not planning on leaving any time soon.”