USPS Publication Number 16300
T h i s C om mu n it y Ne w s p a p e r i s a p u bl i c a t ion of E s c a m b i a-S a nt a Ro s a B a r A s s o c i a t ion
Se r v i ng t he Fi r st Jud icia l Ci rcu it Section A, Page 1
Vol. 21, No. 40
V isit T he S ummation W eekly O nline : SummationWeekly.com
October 6, 2021
1 Section, 8 Pages
F LY I N G B U R R I T O S CO M I N G I N H O T JUA N ’ S FLY ING BURRITO IS L A NDING IN PENS ACOL A
by Morgan Cole
H
eads up! Flying Burritos coming in hot. You can catch them in two different locations in Pensacola.
For the first time in 24 years, Juan’s Flying Burrito will expand outside of its home territory in New Orleans with two new locations coming to Pensacola this fall. The casual, Creole-Mexican fusion restaurant has grown to become a local favorite throughout The Big Easy, known for its distinct vibe and hefty madeto-order tacos and burritos. The first Pensacola restaurant is set to open November 20 at 200 South Alcaniz Street in the historic downtown building formerly home to Alcaniz Kitchen and Tap. The second location will open in Westside Pensacola at 3790
Barrancas Avenue in place of the old Tippy’s Tavern. No opening date has been set for the Barrancas location, but Juan’s Director of Florida Operations, Johnny Fisher said that he expects things to be up and running a few months after the downtown location. According to Fisher, the expansion to Pensacola was viewed as a natural next step by restaurant owner Warren Chapoton, who was inspired by the vast similarities of Pensacola to New Orleans, where the business was first launched and quickly flourished — giving rise to its four locations.
“Pensacola is similar to New Orleans in a lot of ways,” Fisher said. “Besides being a Saint’s town, it’s diverse, a little funky, loves to eat, loves a good party and especially, a good margarita.” The first Juan’s opened its doors in 1997 in the Lower Garden District of New Orleans at the height of its renaissance. It all started with majority owner and founder, War ren Chapoton, who wanted to create an affordable mission-style burrito joint like those popular in San Francisco’s Mission District, for the city’s diverse crowd of local artists and musicians to enjoy. As a musician himself, Chapoton knew f irst-hand how hard it was to f ind a decent place in the city to grab a quick bite of affordable food between sets or gigs. So, he set out to create something different from the “scoop-and-eat” food carts that many of the musicians and artists had become accustomed to. Of course, its distinct punk rock vibe and rock and roll aesthetic made it more popular. Compared to other big burrito franchises like Moe’s or Chipotle, Fisher said Juan’s blends the unique culture of New Orleans with a burrito
joint to create the world’s first Creole Taqueria (or Creole Mexican restaurant), making it distinct in their offerings. “It’s a delicious neighborhood restaurant that is integrated into the community with a fun and comfortable vibe,” Fisher said. For more than two decades, Juan’s Flying Burritos has remained true to quality. Everything is authentic and cooked to order using only the best fresh ingredients. “Juan’s has become a New Orleans institution,” Fisher said. “The food and margaritas are incredible. There’s a really big focus on the ingredients, the recipes and the overall execution. And it’s done in a funky, rock ‘n’ roll, punk rock environment that has people from all walks of life coming back for more. So it welcomes a really diverse and inclusive crowd, which we think will fit in well with the personality of downtown Pensacola.” The restaurant offers, as expected, a lot of burritos, including the classic Flying Burrito and other favorites such as salads, bowls, quesadillas, nachos, huevos, enchiladas and more. From grilled steak, shrimp and chicken to vegetarian and vegan dishes, Juan’s Flying Burritos offers
Juan’s welcomes a really diverse and inclusive crowd, which we think will fit in well with the personality of downtown Pensacola.”
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plenty of “must try” specialties that are sure to please any palate. The Pensacola menu will feature items similar to those offered at the New Orleans locations in addition to a full bar, which will, of course, serve plenty of tequila. Fisher said that each of the barrels of tequila were hand-picked from the Patron distillery, making their margaritas something to brag about. Juan’s Flying Burritos is a small business with a purposeful story. Chapoton has successfully completed his mission to offer people a place that integrates into the community, embraces a diverse crowd and provides good food and excellent tequila to all. Boasting the same punk rock aesthetic as the original Juan’s, the two new Pensacola locations, will take the story even further. Fisher said that they look forward to bringing Juan’s to other places throughout the Saint’s territory in the near future. “We’ve been overwhelmed with gratitude by the response and welcoming we’ve had from Pensacola, especially from the other small businesses downtown and our loyal guests that live or vacation in Pensacola,” Fisher said. “We look forward to being a part of this vibrant city for many years.” For a taste of what you can expect, check out their menu at juansflyingburrito.com.
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