Finding a burrito at 1 a.m. in Old Town Bluffton is about to get easier. Here’s why
One Bluffton restaurant is tackling the worker shortage problem with new technology, and those with middle-of-the-night burrito cravings may be the beneficiaries.
Starting on Wednesday at 5 p.m., just about the time most other places will close for the Thanksgiving holiday, Underground Burritos will be stocking a refrigerated case on the porch of its Old Town eatery. Customers will be able to scan their credit or debit card to open the case, and lasers will record which items are removed and charge the customer’s card.
In a video demonstrating the high-tech vending machine, owner Jimmy Soules noted that customers have lamented not being able to get breakfast burritos on Sunday mornings when the restaurant is closed.
“This is a wonderful advantage for people who miss us when we are not open,” Soules said.
The set up includes a microwave for those who would like to sit on the patio to eat, but there also are bags for those who’d like to take their meal to go.
The kiosk includes all the burritos on Underground’s menu, and most are priced at $6.95 — $1 off the in-restaurant price — except for the Brisket Burrito. There are also chips, sour cream, queso, salsa and a selection of drinks. A new menu item, the Burrito Bullet, is a smaller version of the traditional burritos for $4.95.
Underground Burritos first opened in early 2020, operating out of a small test kitchen behind Ulmer’s Family Pharmacy. By the end of the year, the business had grown enough to move into its current location at 1253 May River Road.
Soules said he would like to see the burrito kiosks in more locations around Beaufort County, such as in business breakrooms, hotels and stores.
This story was originally published November 24, 2021 at 4:30 AM.
