Burrito Brothers Taco Co. has reopened for business after closing for two weeks due to a collapsing roof.
The Presbyterian Church group, which owns the building, said the collapsing roof forced the restaurant to close for repairs. Randy Akerson, owner of Burrito Brothers, now has the go-ahead to start selling burritos again as construction continues.
Akerson worried about losing his food inventory and, eventually, his employees. The restaurant lost $1,000 in food costs alone while it was closed, and his employees were on paid leave.
“Those kids depend on a paycheck to live,” Akerson said. “And if I couldn’t have paid them, then they would’ve had to find other jobs, and that would’ve put me out of business permanently.”
They care a lot about their ingredients, said Simon Nash, a customer who described the food as “pseudo-Mexican, Tex-Mex.”
“They’re kind of, like, coveted,” he said. “I know my good friend worked here for a long time before they would even show him a few of their salsa recipes.”
Business is quickly picking up again. With the short commute from the University of Florida, the restaurant is a lunch-time favorite among Gainesville residents, students and faculty.
The building will eventually be renovated, but Burrito Bros. is here to stay.
“I don’t plan on going anywhere,” Akerson said.
Rachel Jones edited this story online.