Mayor Welcomes New Restaurant Downtown

Mayor John Callahan officially welcomed Hello Burrito into the community of north side downtown businesses on Wednesday, though he already was quite familiar with it.

Staffers on the mayor's failed congressional campaign, who until November, worked a block away, became regulars and always raved about the place, Callahan said. "They came from all over the country, and they all loved it," he told restaurant owner Rachel Lambdin.

Lambdin, 33, opened the restaurant in September though she is no newcomer to the restaurant business. Lambdin also owns Betty's restaurant in Kutztown.

Lambdin is also part of growing trend downtown: new women entrepreneurs who are under the age of 40. Five of them have opened businesses in the Historic Downtown in 2010.

The new restaurant at 38 W. Broad St. specializes in homemade soups, quesadillas, salads, and, of course, burritos. Lambdin said she plans to soon expand the menu to include a selection of cold sandwich wraps. The restaurant also hosts a soda fountain from the Boylan Bottling Co. of New Jersey, which still uses cane sugar to make its beverages.

She said she emphasizes affordable, nutritious food. "There aren't too many places around here where you can get something for under $10, and it's healthy," she said.

Lambdin also employs environmentally conscious practices, trying to use locally produced and grown foods and using takeout containers made from biodegradable corn and sugar cane.

The restaurant has four full-time and one part-time employee. It rents a portion of the Boyd's theater building.