Our Story
It All Started with One Pickup Truck.
In 1990, Brett was a 20-year-old college student trying to finish school at CSUN when his life changed overnight.
After losing his father unexpectedly, Brett used part of the life insurance his family received to buy an old Toyota pickup truck and a well-worn ice cream cart.
He wasn't trying to build a company. He simply wanted a way to pay his bills and finish college.
Weekends by weekend, birthday party by birthday party, the business slowly grew. There was no grand business plan, just hard work, a willingness to say yes to opportunities, and a determination to treat every customer well.
More than three decades later, that little pickup truck has grown into Barts Carts, serving thousands of events across Southern California.
Built, Not Bought
Everyone has a favorite subject in high school. For Brett, it was Metalwork.
That passion became the foundation of Barts Carts. Many of our original food carts were designed and built by Brett, alongside a few members of our Core Crew who shared his love of creating things with their hands.
Around here, some carts have lived more than one life. A cotton candy cart might "grow up" to become a churro cart. If a better idea comes along, we do not replace it, we redesign it.
Over the years, The Shop has become something of a museum. Around here, we do not throw away something with history if it can be rebuilt, improved, and given a new purpose.
Even today, you will often find Brett downstairs in The Shop, refining equipment, building new stations, or finding ways to make every event run just a little smoother.
Because at Barts Carts, we are never satisfied with "good enough." We believe there is always a better way—and we are always looking for it.
Meet the Crew!
Great people build every great company.
For us, they are known simply as The Crew.
Roberto, Rey, Edgardo, Wil, Maria, Eduardo, and Ignacio ("Nacho") are not just employees, they are the people who helped build Barts Carts into what it is today.
From our humble beginnings with just Brett, Anna, and Rob, one truck, and a small workshop, we did everything together. Friday nights often stretched well past midnight as we loaded trucks, prepped menus, and got everything ready for the weekend's events.
As the years passed, one by one, more incredible people joined the team. Thankfully, they decided to stay.
Today, many members of our Core Crew have been with us for more than 20 years. Along the way, we have grown together, celebrated milestones, raised families, and built lasting friendships. They are much more than colleagues; they are part of the Barts Carts family.
When you book an event with us, you are not just hiring a catering company. You are meeting the same experienced people who have been creating memorable events together for decades.
A Little Help Goes a Long Way.
In 2001, we received a phone call from Laurent, the owner of The Margarita Man franchise. He believed Barts Carts would be a great fit to own the Los Angeles County franchise—and we agreed.
There was just one problem.
We could not afford it.
For a small family business, finding an extra $10,000 seemed impossible.
That is when one of our customers changed everything.
Burt Epstein, owner of Lucky Entertainment, was one of our very first customers and had played a key role in the early growth of Barts Carts. We approached Burt to see if he would be interested in investing in the franchise.
Instead, he did something we will never forget.
He simply said he would loan us the money.
Thanks to Burt's belief in us, we became the owners of The Margarita Man of Los Angeles.
At the same time, the internet was beginning to change how people found local businesses. That weekend, Anna turned our spare bedroom into a makeshift office and built our very first Margarita Man website. We installed a second phone line dedicated to the new business, finished everything late that evening, and hoped for the best.
The next night, while we were all working in the office, we heard a phone ringing. It was not our usual office phone. We all looked at each other, wondering where the sound was coming from, before realizing it was the brand-new Margarita Man phone line.
That call became our very first Margarita Man booking.
We still laugh when we remember everyone standing there, trying to figure out whose phone was ringing.
Looking back, that story is not about buying a franchise.
It is about people.
People who believed in us gave us opportunities and trusted us long before Barts Carts became the company it is today.
We have never forgotten that, and we never will.
Still Growing
More than 35 years after that first pickup truck, we are still doing what we have always done—showing up early, serving great food, looking after our customers, and constantly finding better ways to do things.
We still believe relationships matter.
We still believe people deserve to be treated well.
And we are excited to keep creating unforgettable events for our amzing customers.