Tuesday, September 30, 2014

Barbacoa Bringing Their Burritos to the Burbs of Atlanta

A growing burrito business is making Georgia its first expansion market.

Salt Lake City, Utah-based Barbacoa Mexican Grill will open their first Georgia location in Kennesaw at the Shoppes at Ridenour in a former Johnny's Pizza.   The roughly 2,300 square foot space sits just off Barrett Parkway in a center already home to Dunkin' Donuts, Dickey's BBQ, Keegan's Public House and a host of other retailers and services. The Barabcoa will be owned and operated by a local franchisee and should open mid-to-late October.  

Sources say a second Barbacoa is in the works for intown Atlanta, and if all goes well, it could open this coming spring. 

Barbacoa currently has ten locations in their home state of Utah.

Out of state burrito chains have had mixed success in metro Atlanta.  National players Baja Fresh and  Qdoba have struggled in Atlanta where each have closed locations.  Regional chain Mojo Burrito, based in Chattanooga, opened a location in Dunwoody earlier this year, but according to locals, it's unlikely they will survive.  

Panchero's Mexican Grill opened in downtown Atlanta in 2009, but closed less than a year later. 

Chipotle Mexican Grill continues to expand in Atlanta adding locations in both Perimeter Mall and Lenox Square.  Moe's Southwest Grill, which started in Buckhead, also continues to expand and is now a national player in the burrito business.  

Willy's Mexicana Grill, a local favorite of mine, recently opened locations near Emory and in Sandy Springs and is opening soon in Peachtree City.  Barberitos, another local burrito business, is also expanding but has struggled in their penetration of the metro Atlanta area.  

Where is your favorite place to grab a burrito?  What out of state burrito chain would you like to see open in metro Atlanta?  What intown neighborhood could use a Barbacoa?

Please share your thoughts below.  

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Check the books, but I think Ruby Tuesday's Lime Fresh holds the record for fastest entry and withdrawal from Atlanta.

Atlantan99 said...

@Anon RE: Lime Fresh,

How could I forget to include Lime Fresh!

I think Panchero's exit was rather short as well, about a year or so.

Thanks for your comments and readership!

Unknown said...

Kind of a bizarre name, but I really like Tin Lizzy and they have been expanding.

Unknown said...

Kind of a bizarre name, but I really like Tin Lizzy and they have been expanding into new areas.

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