By Katy Savage
After suddenly closing last winter, Baja Burrito is coming back to Kilington.
Owner and chef Thomas Bartlett is reopening the restaurant June 21 at the former Taco X building at 2841 Killington Road.
“I’ve never been open in the summer so we’re going to try to put some summer foods on (the menu),” Bartlett said.
Baja Burrito closed down last September. It had been part of the community since 2002 and Bartlett purchased the business about 10 years ago. The former space he leased —The Chalet Killington, at 2685 Killington Road —was sold to Killington Resort and converted to employee housing.
“I had to get my stuff out of there,” Bartlett said. “The first couple months I was in a little bit of shock. That was my livelihood.”
With nowhere else to go, he filled his garage and basement with restaurant equipment.
“I’m so happy to get it out of there,” he said.
Bartlett, who grew up in West Rutland, spent 16 years as a river guide in New York, Maine and Idaho before he came back to Vermont and bought a house about 20 years ago.
“Vermont’s awesome. You don’t know that until you go away,” he said.
He’s long worked in the restaurant industry. His father Luke Bartlett owned Luke’s Place in West Rutland for 25 years. Bartlett came back to Vermont in the off season of river guiding and worked as a dishwasher and waiter at the diner.
“My dad would take a month off and I would just take over the restaurant for him,” he said.
Bartlett said the restaurant hours are convenient for his lifestyle. “The restaurant is always the evening job and it allows me to snowboard during the day,” he said. “It’s a laid back atmosphere, especially since I’m in charge.”
Bartlett is painting the new restaurant, deep cleaning it and making it his own. The 85-seat space, with a 29-seat bar will give him more than he had previously.
He makes his own hot sauces and he’s bringing back his usual menu items, including margaritas, chicken wings, tacos, tamales, fajitas, flank steak, quesadillas and burritos. He hopes to have 10 employees in the winter.
“It’s a nicer spot. I think we’re going to be busier in the winter,” he said.
The restaurant will be open Sunday through Thursday from 3-9 p.m. and Friday-Saturday from 3-10 p.m.
