Freebirds World Burrito

Freebirds World Burrito (often just Freebirds) is a chain of burrito restaurants. The original location in Isla Vista, California is owned by the original founder. On July 25, 2007, the restaurant chain in Texas was sold to Orlando Florida-based Tavistock Restaurants, which owns eight other restaurant chains. Tavistock plans to open additional Freebirds in Texas and across the U.S. [ [http://indy.liberationmedia.com/news/2007/jul/25/freebirds-world-burrito-chain-sold/ The Santa Barbara Independent Freebirds World Burrito Chain Sold ] ] Alan Hixon, former President of Freebirds, left the chain in August 2008. He was replaced by the Chief Executive of Tavistock Restaurants, Bryan Lockwood, who maintains full oversight of the concept from California.Fact|date=September 2008

History

The first Freebirds store was founded in 1987 by Mark Orfalea in Santa Barbara, California, a block from the UCSB campus. [http://www.freebirds.com/fast/faq.htm] After researching locations nationwide, Orfalea opened his first Texas store across the street from the campus of Texas A&M University in 1990. That same year he sold the concept and rights to Pierre Dube, a college friend, but still operates the original Freebirds (of significantly different style and quality than its newer counterparts). As of 2006, the Texas or Dube-style Freebirds had expanded to fifteen locations in Texas. In July 2007 Dube sold his Freebirds chain to Tavistock Restaurants. Prior to the Tavistock acquisition Freebirds was famous for its "no chump change" policy, in which all prices included tax and were rounded to the nearest quarter, making purchases simple, fast, and convenient, and saving labor since workers didn't have to slow down to make odd change. But after Tavistock acquired Freebirds it quickly raised prices, stopped including tax, and no longer rounds the prices.

Freebirds is often creditedWho|date=September 2008 with popularizing the trend of "big burrito" restaurants, that feature burritos made from 11 inch or greater tortillas, with an assortment of meats, cheeses, vegetables and sauces.Fact|date=February 2007 Similar franchises that were founded after Freebirds include Chipotle Mexican Grill (started in 1993) and Qdoba Mexican Grill (in 1995). Both Chipotle and Qdoba have grown more quickly than Freebirds (originally limited only to the College Station area).

Customer loyalty

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Austin, Texas] Freebirds has developed a strong customer base, with patrons praising the quality of the food, the atmosphere, and the service.Fact|date=February 2007 The food features options unavailable at other burrito restaurants, including barbecue sauce and an array of super-spicy sauces. The atmosphere is relaxed with each restaurant featuring a different signature piece including a mockup of the Statue of Liberty riding a full-sized custom-built motorcycle hanging from the ceiling or a mini roller coaster with Willie Nelson, Racer X and Barbara Bush as passengers. Customers are also encouraged to create and leave aluminum foil sculptures along the walls, using the same foil used to wrap the burritos. Freebirds offers higher pay and more benefits for its employees than other fast casual restaurantsFact|date=February 2007: 401(k) with company match, retention bonuses and paid time off.

and Duddley's Draw bars. Another of its locations in College Station was actually built from bricks reclaimed from the demolitions of two of Texas A&M's oldest student dormitory buildings: Puryear and Law. A plaque inside the building commemorates this usage of the materials.

After the opening of Freebirds Santa Barbara and Freebirds College Station, subsequent locations included Dallas, Houston and Austin at first, with Fort Worth, San Antonio, Lubbock, and San Marcos following. The popularity of the restaurants is staggering, with 1,700 burritos being sold at the Dallas franchise on opening day alone.Fact|date=February 2007 The College Station locations are known for wait times of over an hour, especially following Texas A&M home football games.Fact|date=February 2007

Freebirds offers an electronic "Freebirds Fanatic" card for those dining often: 10 swipes earns a free Monster-sized burrito or a Freebirds T-shirt, 20 swipes for a hat or long sleeve shirt.

Trivia

*During the weekends and the infamous Isla Vista Halloween week, the Santa Barbara location has a door host (bouncer) who helps keeps the crowds under control. [http://www.dailynexus.com/article.php?a=11177]

*A group of young adults has started a bi-monthly contest at the Fort Worth location, dubbed the Super Monster Throwndown [http://myspace.com/supermonsterthrowdown] . The first contestants to finish a purchased Super Monster burrito win.

*The Santa Barbara location has two secret menu items: The Quesarito and the QuesaNachoRito. The quesarito is essentially a quesadilla, but instead of being folded like a quesadilla, it's rolled up like a regular buritto. The quesanachorito is the same thing, but with crunched up chips rolled inside it.

*The Santa Barbara Freebirds is the only location that is open 24 hours a day.

*The Santa Barbara location is known for its premium ingredients and for Mark (the founder) asking for customer input as he rings you up in his constant effort to improve the menu.

References

External links

* [http://www.freebirds.com/ Freebirds World Burrito]
* [http://www.tavistockrestaurants.com/ Tavistock Restaurants]