What happens when a crazy idea turns into something much bigger than you ever expected?

We first sat down with Billy Dove, the man behind 417 Foodist, back in October 2023. At the time, he was four years into a venture that started as a passion project—and had already grown into regular appearances on Ozarks First and a whole lot of connections throughout the local food scene.

Now, nearly three years later, we’re catching up with Billy to find out what’s happened since our last conversation.

Billy takes us back to the beginning—why he started 417 Foodist in 2019, how he earned people's trust despite having no formal experience in the food business, and how a simple idea quickly opened doors he never expected. We talk about the evolution of 417 Foodist, whether it’s still a hobby or has become a business, the challenges and unexp ...