LEICESTER, Mass. - Any day their food truck is up and running is a good day for Jennifer Wright and Patrick Flynn. 

The two own Black Sheep Bah-Bah-Q and Kitchen in Leicester and never would have guessed they'd be starting their outdoor business during the rainiest July Worcester County has ever had. 

"It's not exactly how you want it go," joked Wright. 

Wright started in the restaurant business more than 25 years ago, but owning a food truck was never in her plan. 

"We saw this truck on the side of the road in New Hampshire," Wright said. 

What You Need To Know

  • Black Sheep Bah-Bah-Q opened July 14 during the rainiest month the county has had
  • Their smoker can't operate during a storm to cook the meat
  • If they can't smoke, sometimes they have to close because they have no meat to sell
  • Not as many customers come out on a rainy day to wait outside for food

It was a perfect match. However, their first two weeks in business have been anything but perfect.

"A shower here and there. A thunderstorm rolling through in the afternoon," Wright said. "We will deal, but it has been crazy."

So crazy, they can hardly find time dry enough to get their smoker cooking three days a week. 

"We've had to alter our schedule and we've had to cancel some cooks," Flynn said. "It led to us not being able to be open for a lunch."

If they can't smoke, they have no meat to sell and can't open. 

"It's just keeping a fire going outdoors. I mean, you can try," Flynn said. "Some of these rain storms we've had it is raining sideways and we just can't."​

It is just as hard getting customers to wait in a storm for a meal. ​

"We had one guy who said 'A storm is coming. A storm is coming,'" said Wright. "He grabbed his food and took off. The sky was just black. "

They sell traditional barbeque food. Their pulled pork and baked macaroni and cheese are just some of the favorites. 

Since they can't control the weather, Wright and Flynn said it's all about showing up and making it work. ​