GEDA : News Releases

Let's Do Lunch: Barberitos/Anderson Independent Mail

Thu, 23 Oct 2008 04:00:00 GMT

All too often, we don’t go somewhere new or different because we don’t know what to expect. That is where this feature, “Let’s Do Lunch,” comes in. Each week, we highlight a different spot that you can try for lunch. We tell you about prices, atmosphere and anything else you need to know before showing up and chowing down.

And if you have a place we should go, don’t hesitate to drop a line. It’s always lunchtime around here.

Barberitos

112 Common Parkway, Anderson; 864.225.4646

One of the most popular cuisine in the world has to be of the Mexican variety.

The simplicity of the dishes and the complexities of flavor makes Mexican food an adventure with every bite. It can be hot, savory, mild and even relaxing. It can be made using a wide array of food stuffs and attracts all palettes to its fold.

Even quick Mexican fare is insanely popular at present, especially when you are talking about a lunch during the work week.

On Commons Parkway in Anderson, just in front of Lowe’s and Target, is Barberitos, a relatively new addition to the Mexican family in the Electric City.

Barberitos is known for its tacos, quesadillas, nachos, fajitas and, most of all, their burritos. One of the easiest foods to make, but most difficult to master, the burrito is an ultimate quick lunch food and Barberitos does it right.

They offer a huge variety of flavor options from chicken, steak and ground beef to black or pinto beans to the many additions like fresh salsa, jalapenos or black olives. They also allow you to choose your wrap from plain to sun-dried tomato to the new addition of wheat.

You make your order quick and get it fast after telling them just what you want it dressed with. Then, with a scoop of chips and some complimentary salsa, you are off to one of their many booths.

With TVs set to news and ESPN, traditionally, its easy to catch up on some boob tube info or just chat with a handful of friends you invited along. The atmosphere is relaxed and you can get it all for right around $9 to $10.

It’s quick Mexican, in house or on the go, and ideal for a fast lunch among friends or co-workers.

Barberitos Ranks 2nd as Best Vegan Food in Athens

Mon, 20 Oct 2008 04:00:00 GMT

The Best Vegan Food Athens has to Offer As part of National Vegetarian Awareness Month, Athens Vegetarians (http://vegetarian.meetup.com/508) conducted a poll of members to find out what they think are the most vegan friendly restaurants and grocery stores in the area. Athens is one of the few cities in Georgia that really knows great vegan food. We have much to celebrate, with some of the best tasting vegan cuisine anywhere in the country! Athens Vegetarians polled its well informed membership for the best vegan friendly restaurants and grocery stores in the area. Honing the list down to a reasonable size was no easy undertaking. More and more savvy restaurant and grocery store owners are offering tempting vegan dishes to their patrons. We had literally dozens of choices. Vegan living, one of the fastest growing trends in the country, has gone mainstream. People wanting to live lives that care for the environment, other species and their own health are choosing a vegan lifestyle. As we expected, The Grit came out well on top of the survey with an 84% approval rating. They have been catering to this growing population of vegheads for many years and know how to serve up the best and widest variety of vegan vittles. What followed may surprise even some of the self-proclaimed veggie gourmets of the area. Number two in the survey was Barberitos Southwestern Grille & Cantina coming in with a high 68% approval rating! This Southeast US chain of stores serves up some great tasting, nutrition packed vegan food for little money. Close on their heels was downtown’s Transmetropolitan with 65% approval rating. Here are the full results: 84% The Grit, http://www.thegrit.com 68% Barberitos Southwestern Grille & Cantina, http://www.barberitos.com 65% Transmetropolitan, downtown Athens 60% Thai Spoon, downtown Athens 59% Big City Bread Cafe,http://bigcitybreadcafe.com 58% Doc Chey’s Noodle House, http://www.doccheysnoodlehouse.com 57% Taste of India, http://indiaathens.com/vegan.htm 54% Clocked!, http://www.clockedrestaurant.com 49% Siri Thai, downtown Athens 46% The Grill, http://www.thegrillathensga.com 46% White Tiger Gourmet Food & Chocolates, Normaltown 40% Mama’s Boy, http://www.eatatmamasboy.com Not too surprising were the results of the grocery store poll. Leading the way was Athens’ own Daily Groceries Co-op with a whooping 84% approval rating! Daily’s Co-op has several great vegan sandwiches and dips in their deli. Earth Fare followed with a 65% approval rating. Here are the complete results: 84% Daily Groceries Co-op, http://dailygroceries.org 65% Earth Fare, http://www.earthfare.com 52% Kroger, http://www.kroger.com 49% Publix, http://www.publix.com *Each restaurant and grocery store was rated on a scale of 1-10, where 10 is best. The vegan trend is clear and the choices are growing here in Athens and around the country. No matter what your food choices are today, you can always learn more about this emerging lifestyle! Meet great people and discover more about healthy, sustainable, compassionate living. Athens Vegetarians does cooking demos, presentations, potlucks, dine outs and more. Joining is FREE with no obligation. Check them out online. JC Corcoran, Organizer Athens Vegetarians http://vegetarian.meetup.com/508/

Best of Augusta/Augusta Magazine

Wed, 01 Oct 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Two years in a row, Augusta Magazine has awarded Barberitos with the “Best Burrito” award in the Best of Augusta 2008. The award is voted on by Augusta residents. Barberitos is proud to accept this award in 2008 and is excited to continuously provide Augusta residents with the best burritos in town!

Barberitos going pink for Cancer effort/ Athens Banner Herald

Fri, 12 Sep 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Athens-based restaurant chain Barberitos has partnered with the Susan G. Komen for the Cure foundation and its passionatelypink.org Web site to raise awareness and funds for breast cancer research.

On Oct. 1, each of Barberitos 20 locations will serve pink chips with every burrito and taco to kick off a month long “pink out” supporting breast cancer.

Throughout the month, all locations will serve pink cheese dip and wear breast cancer awareness shirts. Customers can donate to the fundraiser through the Barberitos Web site at www.barberitos.com to their Passionately Pink for the Cure fund raising page. Each donor will be entered for a chance to win a $100 gift certificate to their location.

There are Barberitos locations in Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina and Tennessee.

Reader's Choice Awards/Athens Banner Herald

Mon, 08 Sep 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Six years in a row, the Athens Banner-Herald has awarded Barberitos with the “Best Burrito” award in the Food and Drink category of the Reader’s Choice Awards. The award is voted on by Athens Banner-Herald subscribers. Barberitos is proud to accept this award in 2008 and is excited to continuously provide Athens and Oconee residents with the best burritos in town!

Boro businesses happy students are back/Statesboro Herald

Sun, 24 Aug 2008 04:00:00 GMT

What some local residents view as a nuisance is a welcome sight to local business owners. Georgia Southern students have returned in record numbers for Fall semester bringing their pocket books and wallets with them.

“If anybody here wants to say anything about a Georgia Southern student, they will have to take it up with me,” said Craig Deal, owner of Deal’s Furniture, Mattress Outlet, and Gift Shop on Highway 67 South. “I don’t want to hear it. They pump so much money into our local economy, it is incredible. I understand that it averages one million dollars a day when school is in session.”

According to a study released by Georgia Southern’s Bureau of Business Research and Development (BBRED) in 2007, the University pumped $719,233,212 into the economies of nine Southeast Georgia counties in 2006-2007. Whether those numbers are accurate or not is inconsequential to local business owners. They only know that Georgia Southern students are extremely important to the livelihood of their businesses, and many wouldn’t survive without them.

“On sorority rush bid day, we had the largest single sales day any Barberitos has ever had,” said Jeremy Coulter, owner of Barberitos restaurant in the Market District. “We catered the event attended by over 750 people. It was a phenomenal day for us, and all because of Georgia Southern.”

Coulter said he has a number of professionals that eat at his restaurant during the day, but students and their eating schedules are just different.

“They eat all of the time,” he said. “At three in the afternoon, late at night, it doesn’t matter, they are always eating, and that is very good for us. We really, really miss them when school is not in session. I honestly didn’t know the economic impact the students make until my wife and I opened up this restaurant. They are a breath of fresh air.”

Deal said he sells hundreds of mattresses to students each year representing well over 25 percent of his mattress business in a relatively short period of time.

“The push begins in late June running right up until the start of school,” he said. “We are really, really busy, and it is almost exclusively students. We have parents that come in to buy furniture and such for their children, and then turn around and buy stuff for themselves and haul it back to Atlanta or wherever. It just multiplies.”

Robbie Richardson, owner of Hugo’s Restaurant in downtown Statesboro, said he saw a noticeable difference when the public school system started its new academic year at the beginning of August.

“I guess it isn’t just college students that leave,” Richardson said. “It is professors and folks that service the University. When their children start back to school, they come back and bring the business with them. However, that isn’t nearly as impactful as when Georgia Southern students come back. I mean look around, look at all of the students that are eating in here.”

Richardson said local restaurants plan for a drop in business over the summer, but were blindsided this year by the increased cost of food.

“It’s one thing to anticipate a slowdown, but the rise in the cost of food we couldn’t and didn’t plan for,” he said. “It has been a very hard summer for everyone. The last two weeks have truly been a blessing. Thank you Georgia Southern and welcome back.”

Serenity Day Spa and Salon owner Karen Lambert said the absence of university students impacts the salon’s younger stylists the most.

“Those stylists depend on the student population because that is the demographic of their customer, so it is slow for them in the summer,” she said. “It is a rough few weeks, but they manage. I know how glad they are when everyone comes back for school.” Deal said he doesn’t understand some people’s perceptions of the students admitting a few “bad apples” seem to grab all of the attention.

“Almost all of the kids that come in here are very, very nice and polite,” he said. “I know there are a few bad ones out there, but most of them are just great. We are truly blessed to have an economic engine like Georgia Southern University. I believe that with all of my heart.”

Two new restaurants headed to Valdosta/The Valdosta Daily Times

Sat, 09 Aug 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Valdosta will soon see two new restaurants this fall as the community continues to attract new business.

Barberitos has announced its intention to build its new Tex-Mex restaurant in the Remerton Square plaza on Baytree Road, and Taqueria del SurEste will build its new restaurant at the North Oak Square shopping center located on Inner Perimeter Road and North Oak Street Ext.

• Barberitos

According to a press release, Barberitos is a natural and fresh Tex-Mex style restaurant.

“We are so excited to be part of the Valdosta and Valdosta State University community and look forward to serving the people of Valdosta the freshest food available,” said Todd Jones, franchise owner, in the press release. “We go to great lengths to be sure all meals will be made fresh with produce and meat we receive daily, and everything will be made to the specifications of our customers.”

This location brings the total number of the Barberitos Franchise restaurants to 20 in the southeastern United States. The Valdosta location will be open for business in early fall. The restaurant is open Monday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Catering for special events and celebrations is also available. “We will be able to set up and serve parties as small as 15 guests and as large as several hundred,” said Jones.

“As a franchise we are excited about becoming a part of such a great community,” said Downing Barber, founder and CEO of Barberitos. “We always look for places where we can get involved with the community and provide a healthier, way fresher, way better alternative to fast food.”

To learn more, visit the web site at www.barberitos.com.

• Taqueria del SurEste

Gill Property Management has announced a new restaurant for its North Oak Square shopping center currently under construction and renovation on Inner Perimeter Road.

Owned and operated locally by Rick Coleman, Taqueria del SurEste will be a new restaurant offering a southwest concept focusing on authentic Mexican cuisine with an American influence. The menu will carry signature tacos, enchiladas, nachos, quesadillas, soups and salads. Side items of black beans, rice, turnip greens, cole slaw, fresh salsa, guacamole, cheese dip and chips will also be available.

“SurEste will provide patrons with something different than the traditional Mexican restaurants that South Georgians are accustomed to eating,” said Coleman in a press release statement. “The menu will have an easy al la carte ordering set up where one customer might want just tacos for a snack while another customer may want to add rice and beans for a complete meal.”

Coleman returned to Valdosta after receiving a B.B.A. in Hospitality Administration from Georgia State University in Atlanta.

“The last year of college I became interested in the restaurant industry and saw an opportunity to create a restaurant in Valdosta for South Georgians to enjoy good food with a fun environment,” added Coleman. “There were many options in Valdosta to locate a restaurant, but it was exciting to find a space that was a new development in one of the best locations in Valdosta.”

According to GPM, Taqueria del SurEste will be one of two tenants in a new stand alone building just beginning construction at North Oak Square. Wireless Internet access will also be available.

Construction on Taqueria Del SurEste is scheduled for completion by late November 2008.

Celebrities Dine at Barberitos

Thu, 17 Jul 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Ultimate Fighting Champion in the light heavyweight division and star coach on the television show The Ultimate Fighter, Forrest Griffin, recently dined at Barberitos in Augusta, Georgia. Griffin graduated from Evans High School in Evans, Georgia, a suburb of Augusta. He then graduated with a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Georgia. Griffin’s rigorous training and dieting only allows for healthy, trans fat free meal choices and Barberitos is proud to serve him, as well as all of our other loyal customers!

Barberitos - Dining Guide/Charleston Post and Courier

Thu, 14 Feb 2008 05:00:00 GMT

Barberitos makes burritos its order of business, impressing with fresh, natural ingredients and an adherence to accountability.

The Southwestern-styled restaurant posts its menu’s nutrition facts on a large poster-board, engendering trust, and likely loyalty, from its diners.

They’re not trying to scoot anything past you. A flour tortilla has 310 calories, 70 fat calories; 3 ounces of rice 140 calories, 0 fat; a soft taco shell 90 calories, 20 fat calories. A cheese quesadilla has 24 grams of protein — didn’t know that.

The strategy has helped the chain make inroads into the South with almost 20 stores overall, including locations in the Carolinas, Tennessee and Georgia.

Just make no mistake — the food’s the draw.

The grilled chicken taco salad ($6.29) is a favorite. It comes in a taco shell with the requisite extras, lettuce, beans, cheese and salsa. But you’ve gotta add some flair, a sauteed veggie medley (99 cents) with green peppers, onions, spinach and mushrooms. Good stuff.

Enjoy a burrito or taco with grilled chicken or steak, or try the Super Vegetarian ($5.79) with sour cream, guacamole and lettuce, or the Vegan Burrito ($5.99) with rice, beans and tofu.

On Fridays, Barberitos sells its popular jerk fish tacos, grilled fish, cheese, guac, cilantro and lime. The California burrito’s also a good bet: rice and beans, freshly sliced avocado and a Southwestern vinaigrette on a whole-wheat flour tortilla.

Address: 1739 Maybank Highway

Phone: 406-4955

Barberitos adds new California Burrito to healthy menu

Sat, 05 Jan 2008 05:00:00 GMT

Barberitos, an all natural, all fresh burrito company, has added a new item, the California Burrito to its menu. The meatless burrito contains fresh sliced avocado, salsa, black beans, lettuce, rice and a southwest vinaigrette dressing wrapped in a whole wheat tortilla.

The new, healthy burrito is rich with avocado oil which is high in monounsaturated fats, B vitamins, vitamin E and vitamin K. Monounsaturated fats are “good fats” that your body needs, as opposed to the “bad fats” found in fast food. B vitamins help support a healthy immune system, while vitamins E and K are great for hair and skin.

“We are always looking for new ways to offer our customers fresh, new menu items and the addition of our new California Burrito helps us achieve our goal, said Downing Barber, founder and CEO of Barberitos Franchising. In our health conscience world, we want to be able to offer our customers healthy alternatives to fast food, without compromising on taste.”