Popular Dayton food truck shutting down as owner battles brain tumor

UPDATE: 

An health emergency is forcing a Dayton food truck’s closure.

Katie Marks announced on Facebook Tuesday that she will close The Wicked 'Wich of Dayton. 

In July, Marks said she would sell the truck. She said health issues are forcing her to close it instead.

>> MORE: Your guide to Dayton-area food truck events in September

Marks was recently diagnosed with a tumor on her pituitary gland.
She posted the following on her personal and business pages: 

"I have not quite been myself this year. I have been moody, tired, had headaches, and gained a significant amount of weight despite eating well quite regularly. I've been flaky and double booked events like crazy without remembering, and the thought of waking up and dealing with people seemed so daunting at times because i just felt like I needed rest. I made a big decision to sell my business because I thought that I was stressed and burned out, but it turns out it was a deeper issue related to hormones. Today at the doctor I was officially diagnosed with a tumor on my pituitary gland. It is a hefty little mother and is pushing on my optic nerve, leaving my vision to being pretty weird and hard to recognize people when I'm out and about."

The  pituitary gland is at the base of the brain and controls several of the body’s hormone glands.

BENEFIT PLANNED 

Wicked ‘Wich’s last event will be at RiverScape MetroPark in downtown Dayton 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on September 13.

The Yellow Cab, 700 E. 4th St. in Dayton, is organizing a sandwich food truck rally to support Marks.

A dollar from each sandwich or specified item sold at Yellow Cab's food truck rally set for 5 to 10 p.m. Friday, Sept. 15 will be donated to Marks.
Trucks participating in the "Sandwich Rally for Katie" rally include Ramen Rickshaw, El Meson, Smokin' Bee-Bee-Q, Thai1On, Greek Street Food Truck, The Drunken Waffle, Hunger Paynes Food Truck, Sweet P's Handcrafted Ice Pops, Flying Santucci Bros. and Creme de la Creme Cakery.

EARLIER:

Fans of one Dayton’s favorite sandwiches, take notice.

The lady behind the Lady Marmalade plans to put her food truck on the market.

Katie Marks said she will sell The Wicked 'Wich of Dayton food truck after the end of the food truck season in October.

>> MORE: Local food-truck pioneer puts cupcake business up for sale

Marks said the whole business — the name, truck and recipes — will be sold.

She launched the business three years ago to prove she had what it took.

“I wanted a chance to cook food for a living without a lot of corporate restrictions,” Marks said.

The Lady Marmalade was voted second best on Dayton.com’s Best of Dayton "Best Sandwich” category.

>> MORE: This sandwich edged out Lady Marmalade

The Lady Marmalade includes two pieces of toasted buttery bread, with a layer of orange marmalade and turkey breast with almonds covered with a freckling of cilantro flakes.

>> MORE:  9 must-eat sandwiches in Dayton

Marks says it has been hard at times to operate the truck on her own. Many area trucks are managed by a husband-wife team or partners, she said.

“Not only is it a lot of maintenance, but a lot of time,” she said. “It is pretty much a 24/7 gig.”

>> MORE: You seriously don’t want to miss these upcoming food truck events

She may open a condiment business with sauces perfected on the truck and plans to spend more time volunteering with organizations like Building Bridges and TJ's Place of Hope.

Building Bridges helps at-risk youth involved in the Montgomery County Juvenile Court.

TJ’s Place aims to provide “a safe place for teens and young adults to gather in a confidential environment for recovery from addiction and other destructive behaviors.”

The Dayton native hopes the next owners support nonprofits as she has tried to do.

“I hope that whoever takes it over has the same mission to make Dayton a better place and help continue its steady rise,” she said.

>> MORE: Food truck casts a spell with sultry sandwich

>> GUIDE: Food trucks in Dayton

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