Stephanie Spear 
It’s a familiar sight: a colorful food truck with a line of people queued to place or pick up their orders. The twist is that the customers are the canine companions to those in line, and the food available at this truck is for dogs. While Woofbowl travels nationwide to pop-up events and dog-centric parties, the company has roots in Northern Virginia. Founders Ron and Solo Holloway launched the popular truck here in Northern Virginia. The Fairfax Girl chatted with Ron and Solo to learn more about their journey to being dog food denizens, their Northern Virginia connections, and more. Read on for more with Ron and Solo Holloway of Woofbowl.
The Backstory
Ron and Solo Holloway’s story may sound familiar to anyone who has been in the Northern Virginia area long enough. Ron, a Navy veteran, and his wife, Solo, moved to the DC area when Ron got a job with the government. They share a love of exploration, travel, learning, and dogs. They adopted French bulldogs Latto and Dino as a way to support Ron’s PTSD. Over time, Solo began thinking that the standard kibble their dogs were eating wasn’t the best possible thing for them.
Solo, an electrical and biochemical engineer, started experimenting with different foods, including human-grade ingredients. Solo and Ron were thrilled with the positive changes they observed in their dogs and their health. What started as a ‘one day’ conversation about opening a dog food business is now the reality of Woofbowl.
A Woofbowl combo meal. Photo credit @woofbowl.
The two got serious about things in 2017, and the Woofbowl truck hit the road in 2019. The journey wasn’t without its hiccups: the initial investment they made in the truck was stolen by an unscrupulous contractor. In addition to the financial hit, it took several more months to get the truck up and running. And then 2020 came, and everything changed.
By this point, both Ron and Solo had left their careers to work on Woofbowl full-time. They took Woofbowl on the road, traveling across the country and back in the van, and working at different commercial kitchens along the way. “We felt it was an opportunity to really explore,” Ron said. “Life is short so we want to make the most of it.” They made their way back to the East Coast and settled in Brooklyn.
Van Life Meets Food Truck
Ron, Solo, the dogs, and the truck found a nice rhythm in the NYC metro area, doing pop-ups in different neighborhoods and at private events. “We figured that the saying was true – if we could make it in New York, we could make it anywhere,” Ron said. They also came back to Northern Virginia and the DC metro area from time to time.
Read more: This Arlington Non-profit Gives Kids Clothes a Second Life
Now, they say that they’ve really hit the sweet spot. The truck has been a great entry point to exploring different parts of the country and meeting all kinds of people. And the people are what make the effort worth it, according to Ron. “We have the best customer base,” he said. “I know everyone says that, but it’s true. People who come to the truck are all like-minded in that they really care for dogs and want to take good care of them. We’ve seen such an incredible community grow amongst our customers. We’ve even had people meet in line who are now married, or have become friends and traveled together. People come and they’re showing us their kids who are growing, their dogs, if they get a new dog, it’s amazing.”
Patrons queue to place their orders at the Woofbowl truck. Photo credit: @woofbowl
“In this day and age, finding a community is even more important. To me, the truck creates an atmosphere like the bar on Cheers, or Central Perk on Friends, where there is real camaraderie,” he said. These connections have led to Woofbowl being invited to partner with different nonprofit organizations and animal rescue groups. “I smile sometimes because it’s like, wow, we created something and it’s having an effect on thousands of people,” Ron said. “So many people tell us that they wouldn’t have heard of such-and-such organization if it weren’t for a connection they made at the truck, or met this person,” he said.
“Especially in Northern Virginia, people are really selfless,” Ron said. “It takes a special person to get in the car or get on the train and decide they’re going to make the effort to get their dog this food. It says a lot about the kind of person you are to do that for your dog.” Ron said that every time he sees happy customers, return customers, or even meets a new customer, he feels like all their hard work is coming back to them. “It’s a really special feeling,” he said. “It means we’re connecting with the right people.”
A well-behaved pup is enjoying his Woofbowl meal. Photo credit: @woofbowl.
Ron and Solo still split their time between Brooklyn and the DC area, with stops in Philadelphia and other cities along the way. “Part of what’s so great about our setup is if we want to check out the weather in a different part of the country in a different season, we can make it happen,” he said.
What to Expect
Woofbowl’s tagline is, “fast food, doggie style.” The menu is full of fast-food favorites, but made with simple, healthy ingredients and scaled for pets. Beef furgers, chicken nuggets, salmon tacos, and pork pho are the entrees in the combo meals, which are served on biodegradable trays. Other menu items include sweet potato fries, cookies, doughnuts, and hot dogs.
See more: Community + Harmony at Fairfax’s Mackenzie’s Tunes + Tonics
All of the food is made by hand using fresh ingredients. A recent menu addition that has proved popular is doggie beer – a non-alcoholic beverage or meal topper that is made with a mushroom immunity blend. The truck is frequently at pet-centric events in the Northern Virginia area, including the Fido Fest at Clarendon Crossing in Arlington and Paws on PenFed Plaza in Tysons.
Woofbowl’s dog beer. Photo credit: @woofbowl.
Aside from the food, what customers can expect is to see wagging tails on the dogs and smiling faces on the humans. Ron and Solo use a text alert system, in addition to social media, to share where the truck will be. Some repeat customers come with their own Tupperware to purchase multiples of the food items.
Latto and Dino are no longer with us, but their legacy lives on in the delicious food that Ron and Solo prepare for other dogs. And, in the cheeky logo, featuring a tattooed Frenchie.
To keep up with Woofbowl, follow it on social media and sign up for the truck’s newsletter.
Follow @thefairfaxgirl on Instagram + TikTok for the latest Northern Virginia updates, and check out our events calendar, which has over 100+ events weekly to peruse.
