Barberitos facts for kids
Barberitos is a popular American restaurant chain. It serves delicious Tex-Mex food, especially burritos inspired by the "Mission burrito" style. The company started in Athens, Georgia, in the United States.
As of August 2023, there are 46 Barberitos restaurants. You can find them in seven states across the southeastern United States. The name "Barberitos" is a mix of two words. It comes from the founder's last name, Barber, and the word burrito. A burrito is a main dish you can get there! The company's fun mascot is Pepe. He is a smiling chili pepper wearing cool dark glasses and holding a tasty burrito.
How Barberitos Started
The idea for Barberitos came from its founder, Downing Barber. He wanted to eat healthy food without spending a lot of money. He noticed a restaurant in Aspen, Colorado, that served fresh food quickly.
Downing Barber was not happy with his corporate job. He decided to follow his dream of opening a restaurant. He chose Athens, Georgia, as the perfect place to start.
At first, the business was a bit tough. But things changed after a big football game. It was between the University of Georgia and the University of Tennessee. After that game, Barberitos became very popular!
Growing the Business
The very first Barberitos restaurant opened in downtown Athens in the year 2000. It quickly became a local favorite.
Two years later, in 2002, Barberitos started offering franchises. This means other people could open their own Barberitos restaurants. They would follow the original company's rules and use its name. This helped the restaurant chain grow even faster.
On February 20, 2020, Barberitos celebrated a big milestone. It marked its 20th anniversary of serving fresh Tex-Mex food.
In 2019, a famous person joined the Barberitos team. David Pollack, a former NFL player, became a brand ambassador. He used to play football for the University of Georgia.