A St. Johns County husband and wife believe they have the perfect antidote to chain fatigue.
Justin and Jessica Tahilraman are betting big with The Outpost at Old Moultrie— and they’re starting with tacos, brisket and brunch.
The couple, who moved to St. Johns County with their two kids after careers in the military, are launching a temporary food truck court on a nearly two-acre parcel they recently purchased at 2505 Old Moultrie Road.
But that’s just the appetizer.
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The short-term pop-up — anchored by a rotating mix of food trucks and small retail vendors — is the first phase of a much more ambitious vision: a permanent, open-air retail village made from shipping containers.
The venture is designed to give local entrepreneurs a low-cost way to establish a physical presence without the overhead of traditional brick-and-mortar shops.
“The long-term project is a multi-vendor retail space for micro and small businesses in St. Johns County,” said Justin, who transitioned to real estate development after his career in the service. “Especially for those who sell at farmers markets — we want to reduce the barriers to entry and help them grow.”
He added that they want to create a welcoming space for families, with a small stage for live music, outdoor movies and even a playground.
For now, the plan is to open the food truck court on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, with a lighter brunch-style service on Sundays.
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Justin bought the parcel earlier this year and quickly realized there was an unmet demand for a local gathering spot — not a chain-heavy retail strip, but a homegrown hangout.
The website the couple created to gauge interest was flooded with enthusiastic feedback from residents, families and small business owners yearning for something different.
The rustic site sits on a well-traveled stretch of Old Moultrie that already includes an existing office building and parking.
In the future, they hope to convert the office into a commissary kitchen for food truck operators — a much-needed resource, Justin said, since many local trucks currently prep in Jacksonville.
The full buildout will feature a mix of 10-, 20-, and 40-foot shipping containers, each retrofitted for retail or food service use. The couple also plans to have a local artist create a large-scale mural on one of the shipping containers.
“There’s plenty out here for tourists,” Justin said. “But this is a spot for locals. We love the area, and we think this is a fantastic location.”
Construction on the full Outpost development is expected to take 15 to 18 months, with a target opening in late 2026.
“We moved here because we loved the community,” Justin said. “Now we want to build something that helps small businesses grow — and gives people a place to gather, eat and support each other.”
