The “late night munchies” are no strange concept to college students. Two IU sophomores, Misha Rekhter and Max Himselstein opened up a late night delivery-only restaurant called Trap Mike’s to fix those college students’ needs.

Open Thursdays through Saturdays from as late as 10pm-4am, Rekhter and Himelstein felt there were not enough options in Bloomington that deliver late around town.

“Max and I were always hungry at night and there just weren’t enough options and that’s kind’ve how all our friends felt as well,” said Rekhter.

With operations all night and into the early morning hours and school work due the next day, Rekhter and Himelstein found it a struggle at first with learning the ways around opening a business. Close friends and family became a strong support system for the co-owners, said Himelstein. 

“If you want to achieve something you just have to push it,” he said. “Our customers are college students who go out and stay up late, we cater to their needs.”

“It’s been difficult but you just have to manage your time effectively and get everything done,” said Rekhter. I’m mostly asyhonocrous so I can do my school work whenever I have free time.”

Trap Mike’s rented out a ghost kitchen from One World Kitchen in Bloomington. Ghost kitchens are virtual brands without a dedicated brick and mortar location and have made a rise in the restaurant industry during the pandemic. Most restaurants use ghost kitchens for delivery and prep but Trap Mike’s uses it for the full service, said Rekhter. 

Customers of Trap Mike’s have compared their services to Grubhub or Doordash, being much more affordable.

“I would order a sandwich from for $5 and then the delivery fee would be twice the amount which is crazy,” said IU sophomore Anna Cook. 

Free delivery sets Trap Mike’s apart from other delivery services.

“You’re ordering your mac n’ cheese and you’re paying exactly what it is on the menu. Your $12 dollar burrito isn’t gonna become that $20 burrito,” said Rekhter. 

The name Trap Mike’s came from Rekhter and Himelstein working at subway shop, Jersey Mike’s in high school and over the summer.

Himelstein, an economics consulting and public policy analysis major came up with many of the items on the menu. Rekhter, a behavioral economics major, handles the delivery, hiring of employees, and the Trap Mike’s app development.

The pair is excited for what’s to come for the future of Trap Mike’s and looking forward to expanding their business outside of IU. 

 

“It’s really just about being adaptable, not really settling on a final vision, always making refinements to the plan and always constantly updating your vision for what you want the company to be,” said Rekhter. “We never want to be stagnant, we always wanna be improving.”

Visit Trap Mike’s website for details and their Instagram for current updates.