If you visited the Lower Burrell Farmers Market during its 2026 season, there’s a good chance you came across Jilly’s Cafe.

The food truck became a familiar part of the market, bringing sandwiches, freshly prepared sides and owner Jill Sheerer’s enthusiasm for talking with customers.

Now that the market has wrapped up for the year, Jilly’s is continuing to serve the community through weekend pop-ups at locations around Lower Burrell.

Behind that local presence is a story that began several states away—and eventually brought both Jill and her food truck home.

From Lower Burrell to Alabama

Jill and her husband, John, moved south in 2018 for his work in the steel industry and eventually settled in Robertsdale, Alabama.

Although it was far from Pennsylvania, the town’s close friendships and familiar faces reminded Jill of Lower Burrell.

Her own career had long been in the tire business, following a path influenced by her father, who owned Sweeney Industrial Tire in Pittsburgh.

While working for a family-owned tire company in Alabama, she had an opportunity to reopen a restaurant owned by the company’s proprietors.

That restaurant became Jilly’s Cafe.

Starting a food business was new territory, but Jill took it on.

A few months later, she added a food truck, discovering how much she enjoyed the pace of serving customers and the conversations that came with it.

The truck that found its way home

After her father died unexpectedly, Jill and John returned to Lower Burrell to help her mother and be closer to their children and grandchildren.

They sold the Alabama restaurant and truck as part of the move, but Jill wanted to return to mobile food service.

Then an unexpected opportunity allowed the couple to reclaim their original truck.

They drove to Alabama to collect it and brought it north through a difficult mix of snow, wind, rain and severe weather.

The journey returned a familiar part of Jill’s Alabama life to the community where she grew up.

Fresh food and a community focus

Jilly’s menu centers on deli sandwiches, wraps and salads, with breakfast sandwiches offered at brunch events. When a former customer referred to Jilly's food as 'slop', she adopted the term with her typical tongue in cheek humor and now uses it liberally on her menu and social media posts. 

Sandwich combinations include chips, a drink and a freshly made side, with options such as antipasto salad, pickle pasta salad, coleslaw and potato salad.

Giving back is also part of Jill and John’s approach.

In Alabama, Jill used food events to help community groups raise money, and she brought that intention home.

Her Lower Burrell opening event supported the Burrell middle and high school softball teams.

Beyond farmers market season

The market’s closing has changed where customers find Jilly’s, but the weekend slop pop-ups offer another chance to enjoy a local favorite.

Locations vary around Lower Burrell, so check Jilly’s Cafe’s Facebook page for the latest pop-up announcement before heading out.

For Jill, the food truck brings together things she enjoys: feeding people, meeting neighbors and finding ways to contribute to the town she calls home.