Tacos and Grilled Cheese: The owners of El Mero Taco buy the Say Cheese! food truck

Two of Memphis' most popular food trucks now have the same owner. 

On Tuesday, Say Cheese! founders Alison and Terry LaRue announced on Instagram that they had sold their food truck to Clarissa and Jacob Dries, the owners of El Mero Taco food truck and restaurant.

"The time has come for us to move on. As bittersweet as it is for us, our kids are getting older and we want to take a step back and spend real time as a family. Instead of working the events, we are hoping to attend them," the statement read.

"We are thrilled to announce that as of July 1, you will see new friendly faces in the window of Say Cheese! We are so excited to introduce you to the new owners of Say Cheese Food Truck- @elmerotaco owners, Jacob and Clarissa Dries!"

The LaRues started Say Cheese!, a food truck that prepares gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches, five years ago.

When they decided to retire from the food truck industry, the couple reached out to the Dries family. 

"Some months ago, we began talking to some dear friends about our conundrum," the LaRues' statement said. "We loved what we were doing, but couldn’t continue at the pace we were going. The solution seemed simple, sell to our friends and keep the business alive."

Jacob Dries said the two couples had become friends over the years.

"Terry and Allison started about six months before us in the food truck world," said Jacob Dries. "We worked a lot of events together and have been friends for years."

Dries said he and his wife didn't want to pass up on this opportunity. "It's such a great business."

The Dries intend to keep the menu the same for now, but have plans to add items in the future.

They added that customers should not expect to see a Southern-Mexican fusion like at El Mero Taco. Instead dishes like a Smoked Brisket Grilled Cheese and homemade ice creams that complement the original menu will be added.

Dries said he will keep several of the Say Cheese! employees.

"This addition is a blessing," he said."It will help me keep more of my people employed as well as offer jobs to the Say Cheese! employees." 

Dries said he expects to have Say Cheese! up and running by the end of July.

Jennifer Chandler is the Food & Dining reporter at The Commercial Appeal. She can be reached at jennifer.chandler@commercialappeal.com and you can follow her on Twitter and Instagram at @cookwjennifer.