ARNPRIOR – Perhaps the most famous chip truck in the world, the Wes’ Chips empire is on the block.

“After 28 years, we are ready to hang up our aprons,” Karen Bretzlaff and André Post released in a statement. “Wes and Monique Dodds started this wagon in 1960 and operated it for 32 years until we bought it in 1992. The wagon has lived through booms and recessions, but business has always been solid. Wes’ Chips has won numerous awards for best fries over the years and we strive to bring the best we have to offer to our customers.”

Wes’ Chips has been a longstanding Valley tradition for almost 60 years. At one time, that famous Wes’ Chips truck did, in fact, move. The Dodds bought the 1956 Ford truck in 1960 and set up their business selling French fries on old Highway 17, now Russet Drive.

“Wes experimented with different potatoes and oil until he developed the ‘secret recipe’,” Bretzlaff said. “The reputation of Wes’ Chips grew through word of mouth and loyal customers who returned year after year.”

At one point, Wes operated a second chip truck and attended local fairs but decided in the mid ‘60s to buy a piece of land with a permanent location on the current site on Madawaska Boulevard. Wes’ chips became so popular they were featured on On the Road Again with Wayne Rostad. The chip truck is regularly featured on lists and rankings involving French fries.

The chip truck operates from March 1 to Thanksgiving Monday.

“As we are nearing retirement age, we would like to pass the business on to someone younger who would have the same passion to keep this business a fixture of the Ottawa Valley like we have,” Bretzlaff said. “You don’t have to have a degree in potato-ology because we will train you in all the aspects of the business.”

For more information on the business, click here.