Hidden Treasure: The Pictureman Food Court

Sheilah Youngblood cooks her grandmother's food for the right reasons, not profits.

The Pictureman Food Court on 22nd Street isn't a big profit business, but Youngblood and her husband James have kept their school bus fitted with a kitchen busy over the years by pumping out good food backed by good intentions. Over the years, the pair have purchased a number of homes on their block of Genesee Street, only to house relatives and citizens in need in them.

Through the Pictureman, hollowed out and retrofitted with a sink, deep fryer, gas range, bathroom and deep fryer, the couple has been able to sustain themselves as well as a non-profit organization, all of their properties and a steady dose of customers.

"It's a long story behind that bus," Sheilah Youngblood said. "When we started the business it was all about trying to get our feet off the ground. My husband is from Alabama, I'm from Tampa and we both love to cook. We started out with a grill on a trailer behind a truck, but over the last four years we've gone to the bus and been able to do more."

Sheilah is also the creator of Our Sisters-Our Friends, a licensed non-profit that provides food, clothing and even finances for struggling single mothers. It is funded by $2 from every food order that comes off the Pictureman bus.

"Our goal is to build community," Youngblood said. "Through our foundation and the work we do there, we have been able to do that, but it wouldn't be possible without the bus."

History

James and Sheilah met 33-years ago while paying a traffic ticket and have never looked back. James got the name "the picture man" after he began shooting photographs of people at night clubs around town. Sheilah would work outside selling food inspired by the original recipes of her grandmother for four to five hours every night and began to garner a following.

Eventually, James retired from the business of taking Polaroids of people outside the clubs and the couple retreated to their home where the old yellow school bus now sits. Out of the bus comes Sheilah's home made southern soul food, particularly her fried shrimp.

"Our specialty is is definitely my fried shrimp, " Youngblood said. "We stay busy because the price is very fair. I think we have the lowest prices in Tampa. Everyone can eat at our place."

The Youngbloods headed out in support of voters on election day in 2008 and plan to do the same in 2012, giving out a total of 10,450 hot dogs to hungry voters waiting in line free of charge.

"Those lines were so long and you had a lot of people there that were on medications," Youngblood said. "We just wanted to support people voting and we'll do it again this time. It doesn't matter who is running, it's just something that we do."

The bus is open from 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and occassionally travels to special events. For more information on the Pictureman Food Court, call (813) 965-5117.