Nickel City Gritty: Breezy Burrito Bar
So.
Tacos.
Am I right?
Whoooo doesn’t love a taco? To me, they are actually a food group of their own. Well, in my opinion, both tacos and chips & queso should be their own food groups.
I’ve tried LOTS of Mexican restaurants in Buffalo, and one of my favorites has to be Breezy Burrito Bar on Elmwood Avenue. I’ve known the owner, Briana Hunter, for a few years, and girlfriend is a ball of energy!
She’s created a super cool restaurant and just overall hangout spot in the Elmwood Village, and I sat down with her a few weeks ago to chat all about her business, her eclectic style, and her unconventional spirit animal.
Check out Bri’s playlist below while you’re reading her interview!
This is Nickel City Gritty, and this is Bri of Breezy Burrito Bar.
How did Breezy Burrito get started?
My parents have owned a Tex Mex restaurant for thirty years, my father is from Texas and my mother just really loves cooking. We grew up in Upstate New York so there was no Mexican food. My parents took over an old hotel that was in my mom’s family for the longest time. They started off by doing lunch and dinner and really couldn’t find there vibe until my father was like, “Why don’t we just do Tex Mex?” They started Hotel Grande the same year I was born, and it was the first Tex Mex bar and grill in Upstate New York. So when I was 18 I moved and went to community college and I studied fashion, but didn’t know what I wanted, so I started working at bars and restaurants around Buffalo. At the time I was really homesick for my parent’s cooking, so I thought why don’t I make a satellite location based off the food that I grew up eating and loving, so Breezy Burrito was born! My first restaurant at Expo was in 2016, and then I’ve been in the Elmwood location for just about a year.
If you could describe your personal style, how would you do it?
Black with pops of electric boho gypsy chic! I just turned thirty this year and I feel like my entire style changed all over again. I used to be more “jingle skirts and glitter” and now I’m into floral and…eyeballs *laughs*
What is something that people fear but doesn’t scare you?
For me, the biggest fear of doing this was not being from Buffalo and having people think that I’m just coming in and starting something when there’s already such a good food and culture scene. But I’m not afraid to put myself out there, although I definitely have my days. Other than that, the amount of acceptance I’ve gotten from the city is what keeps me going.
What weird food combinations do you enjoy?
I really like taking leftovers, whether it’s lasagna or pasta from the night before, and throw it in a can of tomato soup and I call it slutty soup *laughs* My favorite food when I was a little girl was called red monster, which was actually lobster, but I was three! Because my parent are in the food industry, I’ve always had an eclectic palette. But the only thing I’m afraid of are peas.
What’s on your playlist? What do you like to listen to?
I’m obsessed right now with Sophie Tucker and Nitty Scott, who are both woman empowerment from different cultures. That’s all I’ve been listening to lately. But then if I’m having one of those gray days, I’m listening to Ani DiFranco nonstop or Spice Girls if I’m with my girlfriends.
What is your spirit animal?
My spirit animal is a dolphin! I feel like I have this thing where I can think about my friends and ping them somehow with sonar and they will just like walk in the door.
Do you have any bad habits?
Probably when I wake up, instead of taking a few moments to myself, I’ll just hit the ground running. I’m in go mode all the time. I really need to take some more time for myself.
Aside from your own, what are some of your favorite bars and restaurants in Buffalo?
I love Gypsy Parlor, Lockhouse, ABV, Billy Club, Casa Azul, Lucky Day, Ballyhoo, Marble & Rye…I love supporting other restaurants! It’s exciting for me to support these other places in Buffalo that have it all going on, too.
At what age do you think you became an adult?
Sixteen. I took a pretty big part in my parent’s restaurant at that time when my dad was having a kidney transplant, and I started there when I was fourteen. I grew up pretty quickly!
What is the best gift you’ve ever received?
My first pair of figure skates. I was three. I used to teach and compete when I was younger, but now I just enjoy it and do it for fun.
Where do you go when you need to relax?
When I need to relax I go home *laughs* My home is my safe space. It’s where my husband is and it’s what makes me happy. Even cleaning when I’m home is relaxing because it’s my space. My life owning a restaurant is so social, so I feel like my happy place consists of toning it down a little bit. Also, being by the water for me is so soothing.
What do you want to be when you grow up?
I want to be a really good mother one day, and I want to keep being able to empower women. I want to be a restaurant where I could be a jumping off point for someone to figure out what they like and they don’t like and how they would form their career, and if I could give them any tools, being a mentor through Breezy, that would be pretty awesome.
Make sure to check out Breezy Burrito Bar at 1000 Elmwood Ave in Buffalo!