While Fuzzy’s Taco Shop may not sound incredibly palpable, they have proven to be a phenomenon, according to their website. Since purchasing the humble taco shop in Fort Worth, Texas, father/son restaurateurs, Alan and Chuck Bush, transformed the single-standing store into a franchise that is sweeping the nation by storm.
With a combination of breakfast, brews and baja-style Mexican food, Fuzzy’s has developed a cult-like following — much akin to our hometown heroes at Pizza Shuttle. Since 2003, Fuzzy’s has spread across 11 states and has opened more than 60 stores.
When Hibachi Hut, the previous restaurant at Fuzzy’s location and the oldest independent establishment in Aggieville, closed, many people were upset. However, Fuzzy’s is working to fill the void and has accumulated quite a following already. A quick glance at the business’s Facebook page shows 421 likes, at the time of writing.
“We’ve generated a lot of buzz,” Nathaniel Grote, Assistant Manager at the store in Aggieville said. “The community has really welcomed us. Especially on our social media sites.”
In addition to the store’s Facebook page, you can find them on Twitter (@FuzzysManhattan). The new kids on the block have managed to accumulate 170+ followers over the weekend while blasting promos for $10.99 Corona buckets and using hashtags like #newbarproblems and #dinemhk. Soon you’ll be able to check in on Foursquare as well.
“The KC location has gotten into Foursquare, and we’re really looking into bringing that here,” Grote said. While the Aggieville location doesn’t offer specials to students just yet, Grote added that these are in the works along with a slew of Foursquare specials to come.
The business enjoyed a very profitable opening weekend during which several patrons visited more than once. Perhaps there is something to the restaurant’s claim: Aggieville’s new addiction.
Louise Betz, junior in business, said she has already visited the shop twice with friends. “I decided to try Fuzzy’s, because my friends at KU had good things to say about it, and I love trying new places,” Betz said. “During my first trip, I had shrimp tacos, and they were very good. The breakfast burrito during my next trip was just as good! I’d definitely recommend it to my friends.”
With menu options varying from shrimp quesadillas to a shredded spicy pork sandwich to a potato, egg and cheese breakfast burrito, Fuzzy’s food is hard to put into one category. Their selection of beer, margaritas and “fuzzy drivers” to accompany a baja-Mexican breakfast, lunch or dinner cements the place as unique.
However, not everyone had a great first experience at Fuzzy’s.
Erika Wheeler, a proud alumna of K-State, visited over the weekend. “Overall, the water was good, but that is about it. Mediocre food at best,” Wheeler said. “[My friends are] in agreement that for $10 per person, we will just go to Chipotle next time.”
Good or bad, Fuzzy’s is making a splash in Aggieville.
When asked to describe his store in one sentence, Grote had to pause. “That’s a tough one,” he said. “We’re just a fun, laid-back group who want to get out the best food we can with the best service we can.”
