Heaterz at the Riverfront Shares Plans for Flock Food Truck Park Property
Alton community leaders gathered to hear plans for Heaterz at the Riverfront on Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2026. Learn more about the proposed changes and the appreciation expressed for Flock’s team.
Heaterz Hot Chicken Plans Alton Riverfront Location at Former Flock
ALTON - As Alton prepares to welcome Heaterz at the Riverfront to the Flock Food Truck Park property, community leaders gathered to hear more about the plans.
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On Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2026, Flock and Heaterz hosted a reception to share more about the upcoming project. Flock will remain open for the next few months with special events and holiday offerings. Heaterz at the Riverfront will open in Spring 2027 with a few changes to the property. Community members were eager to learn more.
“We’re just really excited to see Alton businesses thrive and find their next home here,” said Taylor Emerick, managing director of real estate for Rex Encore Group. “The excitement that they have for this site will really continue to activate and become a very child-friendly site here for them. We’re really excited to have Heaterz.”
Heaterz is an Alton-based restaurant that specializes in Nashville hot chicken. Heaterz at the Riverfront will have the same recipes and atmosphere that the community has come to expect, but with a few changes, including a drive-thru, playground, dog area, and jumbotron where families can enjoy games and movies. The restaurant will be open from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. seven days a week.
Eric Scroggins, director of business development for Heaterz, expressed his excitement to share the Heaterz brand with more people. He is eager to bring these new experiences to Heaterz at the Riverfront.
“We look forward to making memories for people moving forward while putting our own spin on it. We feel like we have a world-class product,” he said. “It doesn’t happen by chance. There were a lot of people that played a role in us being involved out here, and I just want to thank you guys for that and appreciate all the work that’s gone on behind the scenes. We’re so excited. We look forward to this, and for us, this is just the next chapter. We’re very excited about what’s to come.”
John Michel, founder of the Currency of Caring, noted that Heaterz has been involved in his program for a long time. The Currency of Caring initiative combats food insecurity by bringing food trucks into underserved communities. Michel commended the Heaterz team for their service.
“How do we take this incredible investment, this unbelievable location and this passion has been poured into it, and now elevate that experience?” he said. “Bringing Heaterz to the riverfront just reflects the heart of community, the spirit of commitment and giving that is at the heart of this great brand.”
All of the speakers took the opportunity to thank Laura Windisch, the founder of Flock Food Truck Park. Flock opened in 2021. The business will remain open through the end of the year with a variety of special events and holiday programming.
Windisch expressed her gratitude for the community and the people who have supported Flock through the years, including John and Jayne Simmons, Rex Encore Group and AltonWorks. She is proud of what they have built.
“Flock became a lot more than food trucks and drinks,” she said. “We’ve had some really great people work here over the years, a lot of the same faces over the years, and we’ve been incredibly lucky to have such a loyal team. I’m very proud of the hospitality they’ve shown our guests. Hospitality has always been the most important part of this business to me.”
While Jayne and John Simmons could not attend the reception, they sent in a video message in which they noted they are “very grateful and thankful” for Windisch, the Flock team and the Heaterz team.
Alton Mayor David Goins also congratulated Windisch and Flock for their five years of business. He added that it’s “a big deal” to welcome Heaterz to the riverfront, and he can’t wait to see it come to fruition.
“I’m excited to learn about that and excited to know that they will come here with their vision and with their ideas of transforming this place and just taking it to another level,” he added. “I’m just excited. I’m happy, and I’m glad that they chose Alton.”
Following the Oct. 6 announcements, community members could mingle and sample food from Heaterz.
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