Pasta Fest Business Spotlight: Happy Shack (or Camper): For that morning fix

The 2018 edition of JunkFest in Carrington was witness to the debut of what has become one of the city's most popular vendors for that first infusion of caffeine for the day.

Starting that year, the Happy Camper was parked at the sale entrance, with owner Brittany Fiebiger making a lasting impression on the taste buds of antique shoppers everywhere.

The cozy titular camper was purchased several months beforehand, and gutted and painted with new walls and supports to take on its new role.

With the success of the camper selling at that event and subsequent gigs, her husband, David, had an idea.

"He talked me into doing drive-thru," Brittany said.

So, with the blessing of Randy Hooey at Farmers Union Insurance, the Happy Camper opened for business in their parking lot, operating Mondays and Fridays from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m., and adding an hour the next year to 10 a.m.

But demand was still going up, so the Fiebigers set up shop at the new Happy Shack in 2022, located on the northwest corner of the Leevers Foods parking lot.

And keeping with the theme, their first event was that year's JunkFest.

The Shack allows their owners more room to offer breakfast and lunch specials along with their beverages, which have become quite popular with a variety of daily food options.

Some of their popular items include their wraps (Big Mac, Asian chicken and taco, just to name a few), along with burrito bowls, enchiladas, Philly cheesesteak and Cuban pulled pork sandwiches.

"If people have ideas, I'd be open to them, and we certainly encourage it," Brittany says. "In the two years we've been open, I've learned to be creative with a small space."

The Fiebigers come from Griggs County, as Brittany is a Hannaford native and David hails from Binford.

Their five daughters, Molly, twins Macy and Katie, Paige and Jessie, have all spent time helping out their parents with either the camper or the shack.

"We've been relying on the girls quite a bit in the summers when they're willing to pitch in," said David.

Happy Shack (or Camper) offers hot and iced lattes, Italian sodas, protein shakes, hot chocolate, smoothies, and chai and energy teas.

Normal business hours are Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m., but the Fiebigers encourage customers to watch their Facebook page for schedule changes.

Their chosen pasta shape is orzo, and they'll be "camped" out at the corner of 8th and Main on the eve of Pasta Fest.