By Delayna Earley
The Island News
A familiar Lowcountry food truck, one that has shown up for weddings, birthdays and long lines of hungry locals, is now relying on that same community to show up for them.
A food truck belonging to The Southern Peel, a Bluffton-based mobile pizza business, caught fire Friday evening, April 3, 2026, near the intersection of Savannah Highway and Parris Island Gateway in the Port Royal area.
Just after 7 p.m., the City of Beaufort/Town of Port Royal Fire Department dispatched Engine Company 4, Engine Company 3 and Battalion 1 to a reported vehicle fire off Savannah Highway. The first arriving crew reported a working fire in the passenger compartment of the food truck.
One lane of traffic on Savannah Highway was shut down as crews worked the scene.
Firefighters were able to quickly extinguish the fire. No injuries were reported, but the damage was significant.
The truck, a restored and customized 1953 Chevrolet that houses the business’s brick oven, is central to The Southern Peel’s operation. While the fire was brought under control, it left behind more than just a scorched vehicle.
It damaged essential equipment and, at least for now, brought day-to-day operations to a halt. For a small business like The Southern Peel, that loss hits on multiple levels.
The truck is not just transportation. It is the kitchen, the storefront and the primary source of income. The concept itself is part of what has made the business stand out locally.
Operating out of a vintage 1953 Chevrolet pizza truck, The Southern Peel built its reputation on wood-fired pizzas made with handmade dough and locally sourced ingredients, while bringing a full-service catering experience directly to events across the region.
Founded in 2020 by owner Chloe Zmolek, the business quickly carved out a niche in weddings, private events and community gatherings, with an emphasis on both food quality and hospitality.
In the days since the fire, the community response has been swift.
An online fundraiser launched shortly after the incident describes the fire as a devastating and unexpected loss, leaving the business facing significant financial hardship, including damage to essential equipment and disruption to daily operations.
“As a small business, The Southern Peel relies heavily on their truck to serve customers and keep their business running,” the fundraiser reads. “Without it, their ability to operate and generate income has been severely impacted.”
Organizers are asking the community to come together and support the business as it works to recover, noting that donations will go directly toward replacing equipment and helping offset lost income.
“The Southern Peel has always been there for our community,” the page states. “Now it’s our turn to show up for them.”
Delayna Earley, who joined The Island News in 2022, formerly worked as a photojournalist for The Island Packet/The Beaufort Gazette, as well as newspapers in Indiana and Virginia. She can be reached at delayna.theislandnews@gmail.com.
