Lubbock Needs Freebirds Burrito to Make a Comeback

There are many bygone restaurants that Lubbock folks still yearn for, like Grandy's, Jack In the Box, and Furr's (which I'm sorry to tell you is never coming back- the whole company shuttered in 2021). However, out of everything we once had, I think there is a particular restaurant we can and need to have back.

Read More: What Types of Fast Food Chains Are Missing From Lubbock?

Lubbock Still Misses Freebirds Burrito

Freebirds once had 2 Lubbock locations- one across from Tech and one near the mall. Both locations were popular, but I found myself eating at the Tech-adjacent one frequently. I have many fond memories of great meals there, my favorite being that a dear friend of mine worked the line there and loved to explain that you should eat your burrito by "unwrapping it like a meat banana."

Read More: Velvet Taco's Lubbock Closure Reflects Broader Restaurant Challenges

What Made Freebirds So Popular in Lubbock?

This was pre-Chipotle and Qdoba in Lubbock, so it was one of the first places where you could truly customize your meal and enjoy as many ingredients as you desired. As a person who loves vegetables, it was one of the few places I could get my fill. The restaurant itself had a great vibe with a fun, modern design motif inside. The Tech location was magnificently walkable for students or anyone with business in the area.

Why Freebirds Would Fit Lubbock So Well Today

While Freebirds would have some competition from other build-your-own concepts, I still believe it could do well here by differentiating itself. One key difference is already baked into the concept: Freebirds sells beers and other alcoholic beverages.

Additionally, Freebirds tends to stay open late, with some locations open until 10 p.m. Freebirds also tends to have more stuff on their line- more ingredients and options to make your burrito/ tacos/ bowl/ nachos/ salad quesdadilla totally unique to you.

With the recent closure of Velvet Taco, Freebirds could be a great concept near Tech for the college crowd. I love to see Texas-born businesses succeed, and Freebirds is available for franchising, so here's hoping it can make a return to a city that really loved it before.