Globally-inspired burritos failed to inspire enough people in Bethesda to patronize Boloco, according to a company statement announcing the closure of its Bethesda location yesterday. Although John Pepper is no longer CEO of the burrito chain, the closure announcement seemed to reflect the corporate culture he oversaw as the Boston-based company expanded in recent years. Rather than close the doors and sneak out of town, the public statement was frank in acknowledging the Bethesda and DC Boloco outposts were unable to succeed far from Boston in an "oversaturated market full of fast casual restaurant options." The chain also said it lacked the number of DC-area locations it eventually determined would be necessary to raise public awareness of the Boloco brand.
It's a shame things didn't work out for Boloco, which made a point of offering better than minimum wages and benefits for its employees (the company also said it will pay now-jobless employees four weeks' worth of salary). I was a big fan of the Jimmy Carter milkshake, as well. They seem to still be doing well in the Boston area, so you can't rule out their return to DC someday in the future. According to website Bostinno, Boloco had
tried to obtain $15 million in new capital a year ago, without which further expansion in DC was probably out of the question.
35 comments:
Why don't these restaurants give a little bit of notice? I'd happily frequent them one more time. Or have a big goodbye party?
I never liked their burritos. Too gimmicky.
They gave away so many freebies is pretty much the only time I went!
7:07: There was no "scoop" - it was emailed, tweeted etc. by the company to the public. Now here's the really interesting question - why do you never post a comment like this on the other websites when I print a story first, which is quite often the case? Hmm...
Why do you respond to a post that you've deleted? Context please! :)
@ 9:03 - I don't need to post such comments on BethesdaNow, because Kraut always acknowledges those rare occasions on which you scoop him. He's gracious, you're whiny and petty.
"Now here's the really interesting question - why do you never post a comment like this on the other websites when I print a story first, which is quite often the case? "
Because BethesdaNow ALWAYS cites you when you report something first and you have NEVER done the same to other outlets. It's just one of a thousand reasons why everyone trolls the shit out of you, Dyer.
9:21: Not true, there are many times - such as my recent Fitness First story - where I was not cited. You're having a major credibility problem. And a second interesting question - why are you so passionate about that particular website? You seem to hold a personal grudge, whereas the average Bethesda resident couldn't care less about any website. "Everyone" isn't trolling, just you, as your little vacation proved recently when all negative comments mysteriously ceased during that time. Will you man up and identify yourself? We know you were at the public hearing, and you're very passionate about the County Council and a particular website. Time to reveal yourself.
Which fitness first story did he not cite you? I always see Dyer links and references all over bethesdanow.com.
Both blogs are fun.
9:21 is dead on as to why people take the time to troll dyer.
Btw - kudos on the new ReCaptcha implementation. The old one was such a crappy system, it took multiple tries and always messed up. Nice job, Robby.
Gotta love when mini Bob trolls Robert whining about his latest "scoop".
Buy an ad here if you desperately want to see your name in lights on Robert's site.
Are you really going to waste time whining about a press release from a burrito joint?
Hello, "Woodmont".
Who is mini bob?
""Everyone" isn't trolling, just you, as your little vacation proved recently when all negative comments mysteriously ceased during that time. Will you man up and identify yourself? We know you were at the public hearing, and you're very passionate about the County Council and a particular website. Time to reveal yourself."
You're such a moron, Dyer. Stop pretending all Anonymous people are the same. Could you be any more paranoid?
That Christmas / New Years break that only the one anonymous commenter took. :)
11:52AM:
You have to admit that it was creepy when the troll described watching Robert's every move at the recent Council hearing.
Paranoid is claiming this burrito joint story was a "scoop".
Anyone else want to get a parody site of RD up? Lets make his life hell and troll the shit out of him until he cries.
Anyone wanna get a parody of Robert's copycat blog up? We could have poetry about Reimer's latest fart and scoops, lotsa scoops.
Good lord is it really possible to have a "scoop" on something as mundane as a fast food place closing?
Parody is not needed when you have such great self-parody.
Actually one could argue that this site is itself a bizarre parody of BN.
Surprised to hear this. I like Chipotle a lot but IMHO Boloco did everything better. Loved all the additional toppings they offered especially the pickled onions.
@1:10pm Keep arguing with yourself. The only thing more bizarre than your copycat blog is your obsession with Robert and Hans.
How did Hans enter this conversation? So weird.
1:10: How is a blog that started in 2006 a "parody" of a site that launched in 2012? Are you using the Hot Tub Time Machine again?
10:24: "People" take the time to troll? More like 1 or 2 persons. That little vacation break proved that.
"How did Hans enter this conversation? " That's the question most MoCo residents are pondering.
I think the Boloco ordering system was stupid. You ordered on a computer while a cashier stared at you 10 feet away doing nothing.
Their food was fine but unremarkable. No reason to pick them over the other options.
That hot tub time machine comment is the funniest thing Bobby has ever said!'
As others have pointed out - it's Christmas break. Everyone is out of commission. Don't feel so special they left you alone for a few days.
@5:18pm yeah I think that's the question dyer trolls and readers keep asking too.
I don't mind the ordering system. They still have a regular register. Don't have to use those machines. Baseline methods are still there.
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