Tavistock Restaurants has signed on another franchisee for its fast growing, fast casual FREEBIRDS World Burrito brand. Mark McKay and Chris Beck-McKay of MC Food Service, LLC, have committed to build 10 locations in Utah, beginning with Salt Lake City. Tavistock Restaurants signed its first development agreement for FREEBIRDS last year with FB Midwest, who now has five locations in Kansas and Missouri.
MC Food Service has over 35 years’ experience with McDonald’s, first in the Seattle-Tacoma market and then Salt Lake City. They recently sold their last six McDonald’s locations but continued to seek restaurant opportunities.
The MC Food Service team was drawn to the unique way FREEBIRDS does business. FREEBIRDS has developed a cult following for its freshly prepared burritos, burrito bowls, salads, nachos and more. The restaurants make virtually everything from scratch, which is one of many reasons why FREEBIRDS has earned its tag line of “It’s Not Normal.®” Unlike other burrito chains, guests are provided one-to-one service by a “Roller” who helps hand-craft their individual burrito by choosing from more than 40 fresh ingredients including grass fed beef, hormone-free chicken, all natural pork carnitas, hand-cut veggies and hot peppers, plus house made salsas, queso and guacamole. Guests choose from four sizes of burrito – the Hybird, the original Freebird, the Monster or the Super Monster.
The concept’s philosophy is all about providing “Freedom of Choice.” The restaurants feature the iconic Statue of Liberty – affectionately known as ‘Libby’ – riding a custom-built motorcycle while breaking through the Freedom Wall, proudly holding a foil-wrapped burrito. The restaurant has a free-spirited ambience with a rockin’ soundtrack, reminiscent of a late-’60s rock ‘n’ roll roadhouse.
“FREEBIRDS is exciting, energetic…FUN!” says Chris Beck-McKay. “Everything I researched about the company got me excited, from the quality of the food, to the customization, to the people. It’s the whole package. We have nothing like it and we think people are hungry for it here in Utah” she adds.
“Any restaurant with a Harley coming out of the wall is just cool,” says Mark McKay, who along with Chris is a Harley Davidson enthusiast. “Also, the food is awesome. There are no freezers, the food is fresh food you can be proud of. It’s what millennials desire. The potential is huge,” he says.
“We love and certainly share the passion the McKays have for FREEBIRDS,” said Tavistock Restaurants CEO Bryan Lockwood. “We are confident in this partnership and look forward to adding more franchise partners with extensive operations experience in the near future.”
MC Food Service, LLC has identified and is actively pursuing six locations. They anticipate their first FREEBIRDS opening by the end of the year.
ABOUT FREEBIRDS WORLD BURRITO
FREEBIRDS is about awesome burritos (plus burrito bowls, salads, nachos and more) andfreedom of choice. As guests join the queue, they are partnered with a team member, known as a “Roller,” who helps them choose from four sizes of burrito made from four possible flavors of tortilla. Burritos are hand-rolled with the guest’s personal selection from more than 40 freshly prepared ingredients including grass fed beef, hormone-free chicken, or all natural slow roasted carnitas, hand cut veggies, signature Death Sauce and Bad *ss bbq, queso and guacamole. There are over 35 trillion combinations at FREEBIRDS. The restaurants have a free-spirited ambience with a rockin’ soundtrack, reminiscent of a late-’60s rock ‘n’ roll roadhouse. It’s Not Normal!®
There are 96 FREEBIRDS World Burrito restaurants in Texas, Oklahoma, California, Louisiana, Kansas and Missouri.
ABOUT TAVISTOCK RESTAURANTS
Tavistock Restaurants owns and manages a collection of restaurant brands across the United States including Abe & Louie’s, Alcatraz Brewing Company, AquaKnox, Atlantic Fish, Blackhawk Grille, CAFE del REY, California Cafe, Cañonita, Coach Grill, FREEBIRDS World Burrito, Joe’s American Bar & Grill, Napa Valley Grille, Sapporo Scottsdale, Timpano Italian Chophouse and ZED451. Concepts range from fast casual to fine dining. Based in the San Francisco Bay Area, Tavistock Restaurants continues to grow both organically and through acquisition. For more information visit www.tavistockrestaurants.com.
