Freebirds World Burrito
Encyclopedia
Freebirds World Burrito, Freebirds for short, is a regional chain of fast casual burrito
restaurants. Founded in 1987 in Isla Vista, California
by Mark Orfalea and Pierre Dube, the restaurant chain expanded into Texas in 1990. After Dube took over the Texas location in 1994, he expanded the chain to span 19 restaurants in Texas, while Orfalea retained ownership of the original California location and a license to continue using the name. The Texas Freebirds World Burrito chain, which was headquartered in College Station
, was purchased by private-equity Tavistock Group
in 2007. The chain, headquartered in the Tavistock Restaurants offices in Emeryville, California
, has grown to over 30 locations in Texas and a single location in Oklahoma, with some Freebirds set to open outside the state in 2011.
, California
, a block from the University of California, Santa Barbara
campus. When the partners decided to open a second location, they looked at the twenty largest college towns in the US, eventually choosing College Station, Texas
, home of Texas A&M University
. They opened the second Freebirds, called El Freebirds Burrito and Taco Bar, in 1991 in the Northgate shopping district, a commercial district located across the street from the campus in a central hub of activity for both students and residents with heavy foot traffic. In 1994, Dube bought out his partner, though Orfalea retained the original Isla Vista location and a license to continue operating under the Freebirds name there. Dube then opened a second location in College Station, then a third. He later expanded the restaurant to multiple locations across Texas, including Dallas
, Houston
, and Austin
.
By 2007, the restaurant chain had 19 locations around Texas. On July 25, 2007, Dube sold the chain to California-based Tavistock Group through its Tavistock Restaurants division. At the time of the sale, Tavistock stated that it would be opening an additional 40 Freebirds restaurants across the southwestern United States
. In addition to adding more Texas locations, Tavistock expanded the restaurant chain into neighboring state Oklahoma with the opening of a location in Norman, Oklahoma
in January 2008. As of April 2010, the chain has expanded to 31 locations, and stated that it would have 52 open by the end of 2010.
. The restaurant's primary offering is California-style Mission burritos or San Francisco burrito
s, which customers order cafeteria-style
allowing them to customize their meal by choosing burrito size and type of tortilla
, then choosing its filling from a selection of meats, cheeses, beans, vegetables and sauces. Locations also generally offer customizable salad
s, taco
s, quesadilla
s, nachos, and "burrito bowls" which are burritos without a tortilla. Side item offerings include chips, salsa
, queso, and soups.
Committed to operating in an environmentally conscious manner, the company stocks recycled paper products in its locations, and prints its menus on 100% recycled papers. They also encourage their customers to "recycle" their burritos foil wrappers by turning them into art work, which is then displayed in various Freebirds locations.
Burrito
A burrito , or taco de harina, is a type of Mexican food. It consists of a wheat flour tortilla wrapped or folded around a filling. The flour tortilla is usually lightly grilled or steamed, to soften it and make it more pliable. In Mexico, refried beans or meat are sometimes the only fillings...
restaurants. Founded in 1987 in Isla Vista, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
by Mark Orfalea and Pierre Dube, the restaurant chain expanded into Texas in 1990. After Dube took over the Texas location in 1994, he expanded the chain to span 19 restaurants in Texas, while Orfalea retained ownership of the original California location and a license to continue using the name. The Texas Freebirds World Burrito chain, which was headquartered in College Station
College Station, Texas
College Station is a city in Brazos County, Texas, situated in East Central Texas in the heart of the Brazos Valley. The city is located within the most populated region of Texas, near three of the 10 largest cities in the United States - Houston, Dallas, and San Antonio...
, was purchased by private-equity Tavistock Group
Tavistock Group
Tavistock Group is an international private investment company founded by British businessperson Joe Lewis. The U.S. headquarters is located in Tavistock House in unincorporated Orange County, Florida....
in 2007. The chain, headquartered in the Tavistock Restaurants offices in Emeryville, California
Emeryville, California
Emeryville is a small city located in Alameda County, California, in the United States. It is located in a corridor between the cities of Berkeley and Oakland, extending to the shore of San Francisco Bay. Its proximity to San Francisco, the Bay Bridge, the University of California, Berkeley, and...
, has grown to over 30 locations in Texas and a single location in Oklahoma, with some Freebirds set to open outside the state in 2011.
History
The Freebirds concept was created by Mark Orfalea and Pierre Dube in 1987, when they opened the first Freebirds World Burrito in Isla VistaIsla Vista, California
Isla Vista is an unincorporated community and census-designated place in Santa Barbara County, California in the United States. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 23,096. The majority of residents are college students at nearby University of California, Santa Barbara or at Santa...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, a block from the University of California, Santa Barbara
University of California, Santa Barbara
The University of California, Santa Barbara, commonly known as UCSB or UC Santa Barbara, is a public research university and one of the 10 general campuses of the University of California system. The main campus is located on a site in Goleta, California, from Santa Barbara and northwest of Los...
campus. When the partners decided to open a second location, they looked at the twenty largest college towns in the US, eventually choosing College Station, Texas
College Station, Texas
College Station is a city in Brazos County, Texas, situated in East Central Texas in the heart of the Brazos Valley. The city is located within the most populated region of Texas, near three of the 10 largest cities in the United States - Houston, Dallas, and San Antonio...
, home of Texas A&M University
Texas A&M University
Texas A&M University is a coeducational public research university located in College Station, Texas . It is the flagship institution of the Texas A&M University System. The sixth-largest university in the United States, A&M's enrollment for Fall 2011 was over 50,000 for the first time in school...
. They opened the second Freebirds, called El Freebirds Burrito and Taco Bar, in 1991 in the Northgate shopping district, a commercial district located across the street from the campus in a central hub of activity for both students and residents with heavy foot traffic. In 1994, Dube bought out his partner, though Orfalea retained the original Isla Vista location and a license to continue operating under the Freebirds name there. Dube then opened a second location in College Station, then a third. He later expanded the restaurant to multiple locations across Texas, including Dallas
Dallas, Texas
Dallas is the third-largest city in Texas and the ninth-largest in the United States. The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex is the largest metropolitan area in the South and fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States...
, Houston
Houston, Texas
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
, and Austin
Austin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
.
By 2007, the restaurant chain had 19 locations around Texas. On July 25, 2007, Dube sold the chain to California-based Tavistock Group through its Tavistock Restaurants division. At the time of the sale, Tavistock stated that it would be opening an additional 40 Freebirds restaurants across the southwestern United States
Southwestern United States
The Southwestern United States is a region defined in different ways by different sources. Broad definitions include nearly a quarter of the United States, including Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas and Utah...
. In addition to adding more Texas locations, Tavistock expanded the restaurant chain into neighboring state Oklahoma with the opening of a location in Norman, Oklahoma
Norman, Oklahoma
Norman is a city in Cleveland County, Oklahoma, United States, and is located south of downtown Oklahoma City. It is part of the Oklahoma City metropolitan area. As of the 2010 census, Norman was to have 110,925 full-time residents, making it the third-largest city in Oklahoma and the...
in January 2008. As of April 2010, the chain has expanded to 31 locations, and stated that it would have 52 open by the end of 2010.
Business model
Freebirds is a privately owned company, with all locations owned by parent company Tavistock GroupTavistock Group
Tavistock Group is an international private investment company founded by British businessperson Joe Lewis. The U.S. headquarters is located in Tavistock House in unincorporated Orange County, Florida....
. The restaurant's primary offering is California-style Mission burritos or San Francisco burrito
San Francisco burrito
San Francisco burrito is a type of burrito, originally a Mexican-American food, that originated in San Francisco, California. The San Francisco burrito is distinguished from a regular burrito partly by the amount of rice and other side dishes included in the package, and partly by its sheer size...
s, which customers order cafeteria-style
Cafeteria
A cafeteria is a type of food service location in which there is little or no waiting staff table service, whether a restaurant or within an institution such as a large office building or school; a school dining location is also referred to as a dining hall or canteen...
allowing them to customize their meal by choosing burrito size and type of tortilla
Tortilla
In Mexico and Central America, a tortilla is a type of thin, unleavened flat bread, made from finely ground maize...
, then choosing its filling from a selection of meats, cheeses, beans, vegetables and sauces. Locations also generally offer customizable salad
Salad
Salad is any of a wide variety of dishes, including vegetable salads; salads of pasta, legumes, eggs, or grains; mixed salads incorporating meat, poultry, or seafood; and fruit salads. They may include a mixture of cold and hot, often including raw vegetables or fruits.Green salads include leaf...
s, taco
Taco
A taco is a traditional Mexican dish composed of a corn or wheat tortilla folded or rolled around a filling. A taco can be made with a variety of fillings, including beef, chicken, seafood, vegetables and cheese, allowing for great versatility and variety...
s, quesadilla
Quesadilla
A quesadilla is a flour or corn tortilla filled with a savoury mixture containing cheese and other ingredients, then folded in half to form a half-moon shape. This dish originated in Mexico, and the name is derived from the Spanish word queso ....
s, nachos, and "burrito bowls" which are burritos without a tortilla. Side item offerings include chips, salsa
Salsa (sauce)
Salsa may refer to any type of sauce. In American English, it usually refers to the spicy, often tomato based, hot sauces typical of Mexican and Central American cuisine, particularly those used as dips. In British English, the word typically refers to salsa cruda, which is common in Mexican ,...
, queso, and soups.
Committed to operating in an environmentally conscious manner, the company stocks recycled paper products in its locations, and prints its menus on 100% recycled papers. They also encourage their customers to "recycle" their burritos foil wrappers by turning them into art work, which is then displayed in various Freebirds locations.