The FuNkY tAcO

Story by Gustavo Sagrero

Earlier this month the Funky Taco had completely shut down. No delivery food orders, no music, no Justin and Sherry Archambo, who had started the concept years ago as a food truck. One of their employees had gotten seriously ill, and they had planned to keep closed all the way up until February. 

“It was better for us to cut the cord and be like, OK, we've had one COVID case, he was pretty sick and it freaked us out.” said Justin rationalizing the move, “And we're like, what's it worth? You know, I've got a family, my Sous Chef has a family.” They’ve since opened, but that hasn’t stopped them from being cautious. 

Justin, much like other shop owners in the area, notes that it seems like the downtown area has been hit the hardest, and that hurts the bottom line of many locals where these premium locations require a premium price. A toll some of the chain restaurants may be able to shoulder, but takes a bigger bite out of locals pockets. Regardless, they’re holding on. 

“We feel like we have an obligation to the community, right.” said Justin, “and to bring some local flair and local ownership, you know, as much as possible because we're getting rained out.” 

Some don’t have the luxury to close, he adds, “I'm not so sure what their situation is, but a lot of people just have to stay open, you know?  ‘I don't care about covid. I got to stay open’... ‘I got loans to pay and that's just the way it is’. So I think everyone's situation is different and that's what's made this pandemic so difficult."

Much like everyone else in the area, they’re trying to tread water, keeping their head above with deliveries and pick up only. But they’re already looking to grow and build into the near future, seeing the summer as a light at the end of the tunnel. If they weather the rest of the pandemic, and the late winter months, typically the slowest months of the year for restaurants, Justin has new plans for an upscale menu in the near future.