Mancos welcomed a new eatery with the opening of a Famburger restaurant on Wednesday, Sept. 17, offering affordable Detroit-style patties. Residents lined up the next day to sample burgers, shakes, fries and more.
Famburger’s Mancos location follows its first spot in Durango, which opened in 2021.
“It’s wonderful,” said Rena Fulbright, describing her green chile burger on Sept. 18. “The fries are exceptional,” she added.
Fulbright said she has lived in Mancos for more than 70 years.
Accompanying her was Larry Blaine, visiting from Peeples Valley, Arizona, and eating a bacon-and-onion-rings-filled cowboy burger.
Blaine, who was wearing a 101st Airborne Division hat, said he spent 23 years in the military. When asked how his lunch at Famburger compared with meals provided by the armed forces, he replied, “No comparison.”
Owners Dan and Lindsay Gearig said they brought their palates from Michigan; Lindsay grew up on the east side of Detroit, while Dan grew up in Flint, Michigan.
“Any burger joint around those parts wouldn't use a frozen onion ring or risk getting run out of town, so we carry that tradition and beer batter every onion ring by hand,” Dan told The Journal in an email.
Dan previously told a blog run by Alpine Bank that he used to own a pizzeria in Fenton, Michigan, then started a film and production catering company. He and Lindsay also opened a licensed food truck in Detroit, according to a Detroit business news outlet. The Gearigs went to Durango in 2019 and ran Switchback, a spot for Mexican-inspired street food.
Dan said they had eyed the Mancos location, on Grand Avenue next to Boyle Park, for a few years.
“We love Mancos and felt a budget-friendly, quick-serve spot would complement the existing restaurants we were already big fans of,” he said.
As he recalled, after a ride at Phil’s World, Dan planned to get a bite at a Mexican restaurant that previously occupied the Mancos location, only to discover it had closed. The Gearigs bought the building in March.
Hungry customers can go to Famburger, which is open Tuesday to Saturday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. In addition to burgers, shakes, fries and onion rings, patrons can also buy chicken sandwiches, hot dogs, sundaes and soft serve, according to their menu. Alcohol options are coming soon.
“Our only plans in Mancos for now are to serve the community by improving the corner we own, contribute to the city and county’s tax base, create great paying, fun jobs and to give back to the community who supports us.”
