By Ashley Rittenhouse
The Marietta Times
arittenhouse@mariettatimes.com
Article Photos
ASHLEY RITTENHOUSE The Marietta Times
Brandon Begin, an owner of the College Burrito Company, mops the floors inside the building at 218 Seventh St., Marietta, which will house the restaurant. It is set to open Oct. 10.
Longtime friends Sonya Saccenti and Brandon Begin have always wanted to open their own restaurant, so when the building at 218 Seventh St. in Marietta became available last month, they jumped at the opportunity to lease it.
They plan to open the College Burrito Company there Oct. 10. They said it will be much like a Chipotle Mexican Grill, where customers select exactly what they want on their burrito. They said the restaurant is not part of a chain, but they have a long-term goal of opening additional restaurants.
"Quite a few of my grandmother's recipes are going to be used," said Saccenti, 27, who moved to Marietta from the Toledo area about a year ago with her husband, Tom. "I'm half-Mexican, so my grandmother and mom have carried down the recipes and we use the recipes quite a bit for our family."
Fact Box
College Burrito Company
Opening Oct. 10 at 218 Seventh St., Marietta
"Build your own" burrito by choosing from a variety of ingredients made fresh daily; chips, drinks and homemade salsa will also be available
Open 11 a.m. to midnight Sunday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 3 a.m. Friday and Saturday
Drive-through or take-out only
She said the goal is to provide quality food quickly and at a reasonable price. For about $7, customers will be able to get a large burrito, tortilla chips, homemade salsa and a drink.
Saccenti said beef, chicken, beans, cheese, guacamole, sour cream and lettuce are among the ingredients customers will be able to add to their burritos.
"We will definitely be doing a burrito bowl for those who enjoy a lower (carbohydrate) diet or would prefer to eat their burrito with a fork," noted Begin, 28, of Oregon, Ohio, who has worked in restaurants for about the past 8 years.
Saccenti and Begin said they were drawn to the building on Seventh Street because of its proximity to Marietta College. The building is owned by Tom Moran and most recently housed the BlackSmith Barbecue Shack. It has also been home to Peppercorns Deli and Catering Company and several different pizza restaurants.
Begin said unlike many restaurants in Marietta, the College Burrito Company will stay open late. He said hours of operation will be 11 a.m. to midnight Sunday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 3 a.m. Friday and Saturday.
"We figure a lot of places - even on-campus - close earlier, so we figure it will be good for people to have an option right near by," said Begin.
Begin noted that there will not be seating available for customers to eat inside, so it will be a take-out operation only. He said there will be a drive-through.
Begin said there will be 12 people hired to work part-time at the restaurant. Details about interviews will be posted on the business' Facebook page, "College Burrito Company" and outside the restaurant in the coming days. He said Marietta resident Roberto Iraheta has been hired to manage the restaurant.
Although the restaurant won't officially open until Oct. 10, Begin said on Oct. 9, folks will be able to order burritos at the restaurant and all profits will go to the Gospel Mission Food Pantry in Marietta and the Helping Hand Community Food Pantry in Parkersburg.
