Tufts Boloco on the Market

[josephineave.livejournal.com]

Looks like this neighborhood is death to Boloco outlets:

http://www.tuftsdaily.com/boston-ave-boloco-remains-open-but-on-the-market-1.1907682

I hope they stay around long enough for me to get my birthday burrito.  I don't want to schlep into Harvard Square if I don't have to. 

Comments

[insignia11.livejournal.com]

I really like Boloco. I wish that they had a better location in Davis, rather than the building way down Elm st. It probably would have survived.

[ron_newman]

Yeah, I wish they were where Spike's Junkyard Dogs is. I almost never go to Spike's.

[talonvaki.livejournal.com]

I wish Picante was still where Spike's was.

[ron_newman]

I agree. At least they're still in Central Square.

[hrafn.livejournal.com]

*weeps* Me too :( That was my favorite place for brunch/weekend lunch.

[syntheticnature.livejournal.com]

*sob* for the camotes and the Mexican coffee and the lack of crowds....

[rosiewoodboat.livejournal.com]

Oh Ron, how could you....

[smoterh.livejournal.com]

I love SPIKE's ZOMG!!!
Only place in the square to get vegetarian hot dogs.

[badseed1980.livejournal.com]

I AGREE! I'm not a vegetarian, but I like the fact that they're better for me than the real ones. AND they are awesome at Spike's because they give you celery salt for your dogs! YUM.

[surrealestate.livejournal.com]

Grump. Their food is so much better than Blue Shirt, but BS lucked into the golden spot.

[marmota.livejournal.com]

Amazing. It takes a special kind of talent for a burrito shop across the street from a major university to lose money. Maybe if they ditched the yuppie look and acknowledged it for the cheap chow that it is.

[ron_newman]

What do you mean by 'yuppie look' ?

[marmota.livejournal.com]

Hm, good question. First, it's a chain and does absolutely nothing to hide this fact in its frontage or interior design. Secondly, they mess with the food. It's a *burrito*, not much to it, but somehow they still manage to get pretentious about it. They should learn a thing or two from Taqueria la Mexicana in Union. Even Anna's has managed to hold on to the basics, but I suppose it helped that they started with the basics.

One of the things I like about Medford Hillside is that it reminds me of what Somerville was like when I first moved to the area about twenty years ago. The only thing that sticks out worse than the Boloco on that stretch is the frufru pastry place on the corner of boston/winthrop.

[somervilleguy.livejournal.com]

"One of the things I like about Medford Hillside is that it reminds me of what Somerville was like when I first moved to the area about twenty years ago."

That is one of the reasons why boloco sticks out but it's also the fact that the menu is really limited when compared to it's local competition, and that's saying something when you're competing against Espresso's amd Nick's pizza.

[rethcir.livejournal.com]

I learned to love bolloco burritos when I lived by the old elm street location, but I would hesitate to call bolloco "affordable." A loaded up burrito is going to run you something like $8 now. To put it in the context of a college student, I haven't been to NH lately but you can get like 24 natural lights for that much.

Now what would really slay would be if the fine folks of Tacos Lupitas (and their delicious and massive $5 burrito) could annex the space.

[surrealestate.livejournal.com]

That's funny, when I was at Boloco, they charged me $5 for my burrito. Maybe it's because I'm a cute babe. :P

[elusiveat.livejournal.com]

I'd characterize Boloco as a health food joint more than as a burrito joint. I don't think they're really *trying* to be Tex-Mex at all.

It's a shame they're going to go. Their burritos might be pretentious, but they're one of the few forms of inexpensive carry-out food to be had that *doesn't* include white bread, white rice, or high fructose corn syrup.

Anna's does a better burrito, but at Boloco I know everything I'm getting is actual food.

[sparkgrrl658.livejournal.com]

it's not a burrito joint.

it used to be the wrap, and that's what they sell, wraps.

[aki.livejournal.com]

Yeah, and The Wrap was awful so I haven't tried overpriced Bolocco.

[obie119.livejournal.com]

What, the Danish Pastry House which is actually warm and welcoming, and always looks inviting?

[somervilleguy.livejournal.com]

It does really look like it belongs in Davis though.

[blondeamazon.livejournal.com]

Yeah, but most anything I got there was not very good. The pastries were skimpiliy filled with fruit and tasted like Crisco. The chai was watery, at best. Maybe I got them on bad days, but I did try several different things and was always dissatisfied. But maybe I was spoiled by living next to Lyndell's for two years.

[jezekel.livejournal.com]

yeah, it's not very good

[aki.livejournal.com]

I disagree. I've been quite happy with the marzapan stuff there.

[gruene.livejournal.com]

[obie119.livejournal.com]

Oh, well, once your taste buds are used to Lyndells, it would be hard to compete. I'm glad I don't live that close or I'd be a balloon from eating all the stuff.
The stuff at Danish Pastry House isn't my bakery style either, but I really like the atmosphere and I know plenty of people who love their stuff. I also like it that they come to farmers markets.

Re: Boloco, I think they did themselves a disservice by switching their name from The Wrap. Because now people think of them as a burrito place which makes it really hard to compete when the other burritos around are half the price. Boloco's big selling point (to me anyway) is that they're using real ingredients and having some variety. Calling it burritos (even if they're "inspired") loses that point IMHO.

[aki.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I wouldn't even compare Lyndells and DPH, they aren't really trying to do the same thing.

Davis Square

[bolopep.livejournal.com]

I'll tell you what... reading these comments brings back fond old memories. While Davis Square (check that... Elm Street in between Porter and Davis) was the worst restaurant we ever opened, I got to know some terrific people during those 16 months (ouch). Most importantly, we learned how to close a failing restaurant in style... with high quality champagne being served in our corn cups at 5 in the afternoon to anyone who paid $1 for a burrito. The turnout was incredible. Too bad that concept (burritos and bubblies for a buck) doesn't make money ;)

I'd comment on all of the comments above, but i've learned that it just leads to more comments... so i'll just say, in all sincerity, thank you for the feedback. Good and bad, it's all helpful.

Cheers,
John Pepper
CEO & Co-Founder
Boloco
buzz@boloco.com

Re: Davis Square

[ron_newman]

I'd hate to see you close another restaurant, but if you do decide to close the Tufts location and hold a similar event, please let us know.