The cafe in the bright red KT Caboose is now open after several years of sitting vacant. Jon Koresko, the new proprietor, is serving a variety of eats from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. every day but Wednesdays.

Koresko, a native of Lancaster County, Pa., first noticed the vacant caboose last October as he rode by on a round-trip ride from Machens, Mo., to Clinton, Mo., and back. Koresko, an avid hiker, bicyclist and camper, spent the night in Marthasville, ate at Philly’s, then noticed the caboose was for lease.

“Before that I had thought of opening a food truck in St. Louis,” he said. “The caboose was already here and ready to lease. I’ve wanted to do something along the trail for a long time.”

Koresko said his life has been a journey. After high school, he attended Lancaster Bible College and intended to take some kind of ministry job. Then he landed a profitable IT job in the Washington, D.C. area. For a while, he enjoyed his profession as a senior systems engineer, and the money was good.

“I fell out of love with money,” he said. “I was trying to do everything myself, not letting God show me the way.”

Koresko sold everything he owned and while carrying his remaining possessions on his back, he hit the Appalachian Trail, where he spent 135 days rethinking his life. Hiking for months, Koresko said his faith was restored in humanity from what he experienced there. His deep-seated faith in God was made even stronger by the journey he had been experiencing.

Although Koresko’s main purpose for the KT Caboose is to cater to the bikers along the Katy Trail, he really loves getting to know the people from the Marthasville area.

“This is not a fast food or to-go place,” he said. “I like the charm of sitting here and enjoying nature and having some conversation with people who visit.”

Koresko’s menu is unique and will expand with time. His goal is to offer some healthy alternatives. He doesn’t serve soft drinks, but offers tea, coffee and freshly squeezed lemonade. He plans to offer homemade Italian soda in the future.

Some of his menu items include a whopping grilled cheese using Texas toast, an all-American cheeseburger, a Happy Apple-inspired panini and a falafel wrap. Breakfast items include egg and cheese, fruit smoothies, French toast and Belgian waffles. His milkshakes are made with hand-dipped ice cream in a variety of flavors. Soft serve ice cream will also be available.

The Happy Apple grilled panini was inspired by the local orchard. Ingredients include signature wheat bread, apple butter, apple slices, cheddar cheese and spinach. Falafel is a traditional middle eastern food, made from chickpeas and served with onion and other spices in a wrap, and topped with lettuce, tomato, onion and mozzarella cheese. Sandwiches are served with chips and a dill pickle.

“I want people to feel welcome, eat something healthy and come back again,” he said. “I don’t take tips. I take thanks.”

Koresko said opening the Caboose is one of the hardest jobs he has taken on. He hopes to take on a few employees in the near future.

The KT Caboose is located at 600 Depot St. in Marthasville. Its season will run from April to October. Campsites are available to bikers from the Katy Trail.