Asheville News

The Asheville burrito restaurant saga continues

Jason Sandford January 16, 2009

Jason Sandford

Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.

Loyal Ashvegas reader Tom asks:

had you noticed that the West Asheville location of Urban Burrito was sold and is now Neo Burrito?

http://neoburrito.com/

It doesn’t look like much has changed, my burrito tasted the same as always and the workers all looked familiar.

No, I had not noticed. Thanks for this! Does the Urban Burrito on Merrimon still exist? Has it had a similar name change? Did the Urban Burrito owners sell to this new company?

A quick look at the Neo Burrito web site looks like the it is aiming to for “green” cred; it states that it’s all about conserving resources, etc.

It’s remindful of that whole controversy over the naming of a burrito place in town after the popular Rio Burrito on Broadway shut down a couple of years ago. A guy named John Frank opened up a burrito shop down in Skyland and called it Brio Burrito. But that ticked off a lot of people, and in the end, it just didn’t fly. Wonder how Neo Burrito will go over.

Anybody been yet?

Jason Sandford

Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.

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8 Comments

you know January 21, 2009

Well how about that…gone but not forgotten. Not wiped out at all..Just taking a break from the cold corner with the hot dog stand. I will be back out there soon…Is the Jeff Green in this thread one of Asheville’s many former AC-T publishers?

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Soni January 19, 2009

Yeah, I just had dinner there today and discovered the change. I talked to some of the workers and they seemed positive and upbeat about the changes – same great food, more green infrastructure like compostable water cups (now, if only they had a compost container to drop them in – we brought ours home), organic cotton worker t-shirts and such. There was talk of something like solatubes going in and maybe even growing their own tomatoes on the roof. No telling how much of that is actual plans in the works and how much is blue-sky and/or pure speculation. But hey, I’m always up for more greening at any level – as long as they don’t change the food! I live on their chipotle burritos with tofu and I’d hate to have to drive all the way across town to get my fix. Now, I’m off to get my $5 burrito card…

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Jeff Green January 16, 2009

So what happened to John Frank? Before the Rio Burrito "tempest in a teacup" he had a hot dog stand downtown. He was always pleasant and friendly greeting many folks by name. I hope he was not wiped out.

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Ben V January 16, 2009

From what I have heard the Merrimon Street and the location by the Walmart are remaining Urban Burrito’s. The West Asheville location change the name on Sunday night to NeoBurrito.

This is a result of a split between the two cofounders and owners.

Neo Burrito will be putting some emphasis on green practices, much of the menu will remain the same, although names may change.

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Lena January 16, 2009

I was just @ Urban on Merrimon yesterday. All looked the same to me!

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TJK January 16, 2009

Urban Burrito on Bleachery Blvd. was still Urban Burrito on Tuesday night. FYI, kids burritos are free on Tuesdays with the purchase of adult burritos. Feeds a family of four for around $12.

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Speak Up January 16, 2009

Neo Burrito?

When I think of NEO I think of Skin heads. Anybody else?

Why doesn’t anybody name their place Mucho Burrito? Good name that means big burrito which equates to value.

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Jeff January 16, 2009

They’ll mail you a $5 gift card if you fill that little form out. That’s lunch right there.

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