LaFayette’s new food service popular with locals

 Published Date: April 13, 2021

By JOHN A. BALLENTINE
For The Prairie News
LaFAYETTE – LaFayette has a new food service available on a limited basis, but it has become popular with customers. Lori Shambaugh, of LaFayette, opened Lori’s Food Shack last October to provide a meal for people during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The purpose of me starting this was because of the people who couldn’t get out. We live in such a small community we can deliver right to a person’s house,” Shambaugh said.
Some people do come to the Food Shack for their meals. It is located adjacent to Shambaugh’s home and is directly south of the post office. Locals will know Shambaugh’s house as the former Methodist Church’s parsonage.
Shambaugh says that the local townspeople are her main customers, but Toulon and Galva businesses frequent her Food Shack, as well. Plus, people who live in the country have purchased Shambaugh’s meals, too.
The average number of customers ranges around 40 Shambaugh said. The Food Shack is currently open Fridays only from noon until 7 p.m., but with the popularity of the meals, Shambaugh may expand in the future. The food suppliers are Sam’s Club and the Wyanet Locker Service, and Shambaugh prepares the meals from their products.
The meal is a full course consisting of main dish, sides and a dessert. Prices vary depending upon what is required to prepare the meals.
Shambaugh said she learned to cook from her late grandmother, Geraldine Shoen, who lived in Toulon.
“I’ve worked in the food business for a number of years. I owned Fraker’s Grove from 2003 to 2007 and have also cooked at the Wyoming Pour House and Mary’s Diner, in Galva,” Shambaugh said.
Shambaugh has also been employed at Nelson’s Sprinkler System in Peoria, been a machine operator and a Stark County Sheriff’s Office dispatcher and jailer.
Cooking wholesome meals is Shambaugh’s forte, though. Her meals are known to be delectable and she is known as an excellent food preparer.
“I don’t do this for the money, believe me, because it’s really not there, I just do it for the people and for the older people of this community. It’s easier for them to call me and for us to deliver to them than it is for them to get out,” Shambaugh said.
To order a meal, call Lori at (309) 351-2502.