Flock Food Truck Park & Bar is heading into its final season in downtown Alton, but the property’s next chapter is already taking shape.
Rex Encore and Alton-born Heaterz Hot Chicken have signed a five-year lease for the 210 Ridge St. property, with plans to transform the current Flock site into Heaterz at the Riverfront, a year-round hospitality destination expected to open in spring 2027.
The new riverfront campus will center around Heaterz Hot Chicken, with a full-service bar and cantina, live music and entertainment, outdoor events and multiple food options. Plans also call for a Heaterz Fast Lane food truck serving Hot Box Meals for grab-and-go dining, while the existing Space Shuttle Café will remain part of the property.
The expanded site is planned as a family- and pet-friendly gathering space with programming that could include movie nights, major sporting-event watch parties, festivals, private events and other community gatherings. The property is expected to operate seven days a week during its active season, with extended hours on Fridays and Saturdays.
For Heaterz, the project represents a significant expansion for the Nashville-style hot chicken brand, which was founded in Alton in 2022 by Dan King. The menu focuses on hand-breaded chicken sandwiches, tenders and wings served with varying levels of Nashville-style heat, along with sides including Nashville street corn and Sidewinder fries.
Heaterz has expanded beyond its original Alton location and launched franchise opportunities in 2025. The company also recently announced an O’Fallon location through a partnership with Soulcial Kitchen. The new riverfront location will give the brand a larger destination in the city where it began.
“Alton is home for Heaterz, and we want this to be a place people will make the trip to experience,” King said. “We’re taking what people already love about Heaterz and giving ourselves room to do much more with it. Great food, cold drinks, live music, events and a setting along the river where people can spend an entire afternoon or evening.”
Heaterz also operates the Currency of Caring initiative with Soulcial Kitchen and the Soulcial Solutions Foundation, which has helped provide more than 400,000 free meals.
Before that new chapter begins, Flock will continue its final season through Dec. 20. The food truck park will keep its rotating food truck lineup and full bar while hosting a slate of fall and holiday events.
Food-focused highlights include the Downtown Alton Chili Cook-Off on Oct. 18, when amateur and professional teams will compete and guests can sample their chili, and UCBC Oktoberfest on Oct. 17, featuring Urban Chestnut Brewing Co.’s Biergarten Trailer, live music and a stein-holding competition. Flocktoberfest and other seasonal events are also planned.
Flock’s annual holiday pop-up, FLOCK*D, returns Dec. 3 with seasonal cocktails and mocktails, food and holiday programming. Four Brunch’n with Santa events are scheduled for Nov. 29 and Dec. 6, 13 and 20.
Flock opened in 2022, bringing rotating food trucks, drinks, live entertainment and community programming to the riverfront property. After its final season, the site is expected to undergo improvements from January through April before Heaterz at the Riverfront opens next spring.
“Flock was always about what was best for Alton, and with this transition, that continues to be true,” said Laura Windisch, who operates Flock. “This property has so much potential, and I’m excited about what the next chapter will bring.”
Flock and Heaterz will host a community gathering from 10:30 a.m. to noon Oct. 6 at the property to share more about the transition and the plans for Heaterz at the Riverfront.
