Burrito joint owner vents on Facebook about failed venture and future plans.
In February we reported that Bell Street Burritos would open its newest location in a former Wachovia Bank building at the East Atlanta Village.
Instead, the shuttered bank reopened as Tomatillos, a burrito joint that is not affiliated with Bell Street.
Today, What Now Atlanta uncovered the drama behind why Bell Street never opened as originally planned when Matt Hinton, Bell Street owner, updated its Facebook group Friday morning.
For Atlantans who are fans of the Sweet Auburn Curb Market burrito joint, he also notes a new location is in the works:
Howdy folks! I will be making an announcement about a new location very soon, but in the meantime, I suppose I should address this:
Back in February, it was announced by a particular Atlanta blog that Bell Street Burritos would be opening a new location in East Atlanta. Ever since then, hardly a week goes by that someone doesn’t ask about the new East Atlanta location.
Here’s the very short version: On New Year’s Eve, I was approached by the owner of a certain restaurant in East Atlanta, asking if I wanted to partner on a second location of Bell Street Burritos. He had acquired a suitable building and thought it would be a good fit. I agreed, and in January we began work. We worked on design, build out, and equipment acquisition for about 4 months. It was during this time that he informed the above blog of our plans (somewhat prematurely, perhaps, since we had not yet finalized our partnership agreement– we were working in good faith, as it were, so we could get the place generating income to pay his mortgage). In April, though, he decided, for reasons that are still somewhat unclear to me, that he would prefer to go it alone.
So, he has now opened the shop with a different name, and I’ve already had people come back to Bell Street Burritos, saying that they went there thinking it was associated with us, and were disappointed that it wasn’t. I have resisted the urge to comment upon any of this in a “public” forum like this, but, between the confusion of our very faithful customers and now a short review about that new spot which raises the question of its connection with us, I felt it would be best to address it here.
Any new location of Bell Street Burritos will be called “Bell Street Burritos.”
Developing…
14 Responses
Candler – Kirkwood area would be awesome.
That is bad business. After him using you for your knowledge and contacts, he THOUGHT the hard part had passed and would cut you off. Sounds like this is happening quite a bit in Atlanta.
Have no fear: What he FAILS to realize the the SECOND hard part is just starting, and thats where he will fail! Trust me, KARMA is a b*tch! Secondly, Atlanta is a small city. Word will spread of how corrupt he is and he will gain a bad reputation. Business will NEVER take off.
I would hardly call that a ‘vent.’
There are at least two angles to every story Caleb. Did you even try to get the other side? A little journalistic integrity would be refreshing occasionally.
Clicker is correct. However, if the story as told by Matt Hinton is accurate, I agree with the boycott and wish I knew what other establishment he owned so I can skip that place. Too many places to eat in Atlanta. I don’t need to give my money to shady people.
Journalistic integrity? Really? This is not the Associated Press, this is a personal blog which is brought to you free of charge. If you want an in-depth investigation, try doing it yourself or calling a news station. What you read was a quote from facebook, its not as if Caleb interviewd this man and didnt bother to get the other side of the story. I’m sure when/if the owner of Tomatillo adrresses the situation it will be added to the site accordingly.
OK. Where do I begin?
Firstly, I followed up my initial Facebook post by writing:
“I was not posting my original comment to be provocative or make accusations. I just wanted to make it clear that we are Bell Street Burritos and not something else.
The avoidance of confusion was my motive.”
I did not want to stir things up at all, but rather communicate to our faithful customer base, many of whom are on Facebook, that we ARE opening a new location, but it’s NOT the shop in East Atlanta. If I hadn’t already had questions posed to me about it, I would have left it alone.
Now, regarding the few details I included concerning the short-lived partnership: I myself had told customers routinely that a new Bell Street Burritos in East Atlanta was a near certainty, and as it did not materialize I wanted to dispel the impression that Bell Street in East Atlanta was somehow a “failed venture”. Bizarrely, it seems to have had the opposite effect as I read the above article which has a subtitle which suggests that very thing! But then, it also claims it was a “vent”, which I never would have imagined either. I truly was trying to clarify our relationship (or lack thereof) with the new shop in East Atlanta as well as do a little “damage control” as I mentioned already. But I did mean it to be “between friends” in the Bell Street Burritos group on Facebook and not taken out of that context.
I certainly never thought that I would be the subject of an article that uses the phrase, “What Now Atlanta uncovered the drama…” “Uncovered?” “Drama?” Wow.
OK, secondly, “I Smell a Boycott” (if that is your real name): it seems that you have a bone to pick that is beyond this matter. I appreciate your concern, but I feel that you may be overreaching a bit. Also, I don’t believe in Karma at all. My hope is in Grace. God is just, but He is also gracious. I’ll try to be more so myself. Forgive me for any parts of this that seem ungracious!
Alright, folks: Let’s move on. Nothing to see here…
Matt Hinton
Bell Street Burritos
@ Clicker – I would hardly call your post meaningful on any level. Some people here opine with opinions, others with solutions, and others with a different perspective on how to view some of the news that gets posted here. You, however, respond with nothing but empty criticism to people that are doing something you have repeatedly proven that you can’t – which is provide information, insight, and thoughtful feedback. A little intellectual integrity, just once, from you would be more than refreshing…
Bring us a Bell in Kirkwood!
@StevenT
This is a blog that defines itself with ‘breaking news.’ As such, integrity should be demanded by readers. Associated Press articles are brought to me via many websites ‘free of charge’ also. Is payment the only way you expect to hear both sides of a story?
I think Mr. Hintons response justifies my criticism of Caleb’s goofy attempt at sensationalism.
@Urbanist
Are you Caleb’s waterboy or what? You think that snipping from Facebook is providing insight and thoughtful feedback? Apparently Mr. Hinton did not find my criticism of What Now Atlanta empty.
And we still don’t have the other side of the story. Probably none of our business to begin with.
How many places can you now get mexican food in East Atlanta? 4? 5? What on earth possessed you to think that Bell Street had any chance of succeeding there?
hey clicker. i don’t feel as if this story is lacking in journalistic integrity, but i appreciate your concern. creative loafing (a reputable newspaper) has reported the same “one-sided” story as above:
http://clatl.com/omnivore/archives/2011/09/09/next-the-burrito-wars#more
–cjs
Caleb, since when is — “But he did it too!” — a valid defense for sloppy work?
Did you catch Mr. Hinton’s response to the Loafing article? I’ll paste it for you:
“Landsakes!
I understand it may be a slow culinary news day, but we all know that this isn’t *really* a story. I’ve had several customers come to our shop, tell me that they went to Tomatillos thinking it was us (with a new name). My intention was to clarify for our customers that we are Bell Street Burritos and our new location will also be Bell Street Burritos. I also wanted to indicate that East Atlanta was not a failed venture on the part of Bell Street. I did not intend to accuse, only to clarify the situation to our Facebook group members. There is no “war”.
Thanks for your concern,
Matt”
Comprende?
clicker, arguing with you (an anonymous coward hiding behind a computer picking on a 22-year-old who owes you nothing) isn’t worth it. have a great week!
–cjs
Fascinating Caleb. Exactly why did you subtly change the wording on your September 12, 9:35 response?
Is that more of your integrity on display?