Fort Lewis College faculty and students gathered around large tables, enjoying burritos and lively conversation at the opening of Zia Taqueria’s newest location last week on campus.
A ribbon-cutting was held at 11 a.m. March 26. Afterward, campus leaders were invited to enjoy free, made-to-order burritos, rice bowls and chips – a staple of Durango cuisine.
“It’s great to have an alternative option for a decent meal without having to go downtown,” said Rob Lee, an FLC faculty member.
The new dining option is part of an effort to upgrade food service on campus by offering more variety and fresher ingredients, said Sloane Kelley, retail manager for Fresh Ideas, FLC's new dining service provider.
FLC began its search for a new food provider last year, and Fresh Ideas was among the companies that submitted a bid, according to a college news release.
Hoping to meet the school’s need for more variety and locally sourced ingredients, Fresh Ideas approached Zia co-owners Tim Turner and Carly Van Hof Thomson about a possible collaboration.
“It's part of our mission to … make sure that we’re keeping the spotlight on the local town producers,” said Mike Brown, a manager with Fresh Ideas.
Van Hof Thomson said she and Turner often discuss expanding but hadn’t thought there was room for a third Zia location in Durango until approached by Fresh Ideas.
“This opportunity, when it came to us, was just a great idea that we hadn't really considered before,” she said.
Students, however, had been thinking about grabbing a quick, fresh meal without needing to travel down the hill.
“FLC asked their community, ‘What do you want to see? What is our future for the next five to 10 years?’ And overwhelmingly, the faculty, staff and students said Zia. So it’s kind of a slam dunk,” Brown said.
About 10 students joined the Zia staff, and the team is still hiring for supervisory roles.
Because the location follows the academic calendar and closes during breaks, supervisors will train at other Zia locations over the summer before transitioning back in the fall, Van Hof Thomson said.
The fast-casual restaurant has taken over the space formerly occupied by The Rocket in the Student Union.
The new location offers a pared-down version of the original menu. While daily specials are gone, burritos, rice bowls, salad bowls and quesadillas remain.
Prices are consistent with other locations, and students can use their meal swipes for purchases.
While located on a college campus, the restaurant is open to the public – not just students and staff.
Hours are 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Friday and 4 to 10 p.m. on weekends – two hours later than the downtown locations.
jbowman@durangoherald.com
