A chapter in the history of Papacito’s Burritos has wrapped, with a recent change in ownership.
Papacito’s, which opened in the Perham BP convenience store on Main Street in May of 2012, is now owned by Lucas Johnson.
“The name of the business is the same,” said Johnson. “It’s new ownership, but the same great flavors.”
Johnson is adding a few new offerings to the menu, based on some of his own original ideas, while keeping classic favorites. Customers will now be able to choose lime rice (white rice with fresh lime zest and juice), shredded chicken, seasoned ground beef and fresh-made guacamole.
“I’ve always been a fresh ingredient kind of guy,” Johnson said. “I think fresh ingredients just taste better, and whatever I can do from my end to bring better flavor, is what I want to do.”
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He added that everything, save for the tortillas, is made fresh, from scratch, in their kitchen every day. Someday, he hopes to bake the tortillas as well, “but for now, that’s a pipe-dream.”
Also on Johnson’s list of improvements-in-progress is a slight remodel to the eatery’s sit-down space.
“We’re trying to kind of get more of a restaurant feel out of it… nothing crazy,” Johnson explained of his plans to change lighting and make some structural tweaks. “Our food is so good that we’re kind of looking for it to be more of a restaurant destination, rather than to be ‘I’m getting gas, and I’ll grab a burrito.’”
In the past, Johnson was a manager at Pizza Ranch and The Cactus’s bowling alley. He and his brother-in-law, Rick Beach, also won this summer’s rib cook-off in Perham.
In addition to Papacito’s, Johnson has also owned a local pest extermination company, Lakes Extermination, for the past 7 years.
“I was looking to broaden my span a bit,” Johnson said of why he decided to buy the burrito business.
He started as a night manager for Papacito’s in August, full manager in November and made an offer around Christmas. The change in ownership took effect Jan. 1.
Papacito’s Burritos is open Monday – Friday from 6:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., with breakfast served until 10:30 a.m.; and now, on Saturday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., with breakfast served all day.
