Lincoln original Amigos is having some troubles, which is forcing them to move their headquarters to their store at 14th and Highway 2. Oddly, they also closed the "burrito box" at 33rd and Pioneers even though it was making money.
There was a time that Amigos was an impressive success story. They offered some of the best fast food around. Then two things began to happen: Lincoln underwent a restaurant revolution starting in the mid-90's, substantially increasing Lincolnites' dining options; and Amigos coasted, relying on its built-up goodwill to keep people coming back rather than investing resources in its food, properties, and people. Amigos really jumped the shark when it started to hybridize, offering burgers, donuts, and lord knows what else. It became the anti-Raising Caine's.
Amigos has only itself to blame if it can't successfully sell Mexican(ish) food in Lincoln. We love Mexican food in this town. DeLeon's is booming. Tina's is always busy. Oso Burrito expanded to two locations. And several national chains have either entered the Lincoln market or expanded their presence. All while Amigos has stagnated.
What Amigos needs at this point is a wrecking ball; an interior decorator; a chef; and a new image. Maybe they could get a referral discount if they sign up Taco Inn, too.
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I think Deleon’s is eating up their late night business. These days I hear a lot of people heading to deleon’s after the bars - just like they used to do with Amigos.
And it doesn’t help that their food sucks in comparison.
I think Mr. W nailed a lot of valid points. Who and what is Amigos? They lost their way and need to answer that. Remember the co-branding with A&W;? That didn’t work. They bought/brought in King’s. Kind of works, but dilutes the Amigos. The Rezato’s or whatever it was called was a disaster. The food was horrible and it took away focus. Why should I go to Amigos for a doughnut? Would I want to buy a taco made by Krispy Kreme?
Meanwhile, their restaurants are falling apart. The one at 56th and Highway 2 is dirty, needs a paint job, and everything inside just looks old and worn down. Tiles need to be cleaned/replaced. The woodwork is filthy and in need of attention, etc. Meanwhile, Taco Johns a block away is always pretty clean, and has undergone maybe 2 facelifts in the past decade.
Another problem I have is with the food. Their ala cart offerings are really not much different than Taco Johns or Taco Bell, etc. But the prices are much higher. If I want to spend $7 for a meal, I can get a fantastic burrito at Chipotle where it’s nice and clean and well-kept. Or Oso, or wherever.
I would lump Taco Inn with them as well. They are both old, tired, and living off their past glories - if they don’t do something to keep up, I think they’ll continue to shrink in size. Do we really need 16 (or whatever) Amigos locations in Lincoln anyway? The money they spent to build that hut at 33rd and Highway 2 could have gone to improving 56th and Highway 2 and 14th and Highway 2. Do we need one every 2 miles? There’s no McDonald’s between 58th and Hwy 2 and 10th and Arapahoe. Does Amigos draw more than a McD’s? I don’t think so.
Come on Fletch stop holding back. Tell us what you really think of Amigos.
My main problem is with the price, which Fletch hit on. I used to be able to get stuffed at Amigo’s for well under $5, but now my wife and I easily spend $15 there and we are not fat people.
Their specials used to be actual specials, not just “Here is something expensive, but it’s on a yellow laminated sign!”
They are losing the late-night customers because they close at like 2am or so on the weekends (or at least the one at 27th and normal does). Go past deleons at 2am on a weekend and the line goes around the block. Compared to deleons the food is pretty weak, but if they can draw people from deleons by staying opened it might save them.
if you leave the bars at 1am and are hungry, you can choose between amigos and deleons pretty much. because of the number of locations, it’s almost assured that an amigos is closer to your house. but you’d be surprised how long it can take sometimes to finish talking and get to your car, figure out what your doing and get rolling when leaving the bars. You might well notice that it’s 1:45 of almost 2 by the time you leave the downtown area.
if deleons can afford to stay open 24 hours, while offering much better and more mexican food amigos needs to either just give up, or try to get a new market.
I agree that most Amigos locations could stand a remodel, but I think pricing has been their main weakness for at least a couple years now. Maybe it’s not fair to compare them now to how cheap they were in prevous years, but compared to the competition, they’re still high.
$4 for a chicken roll-up? For the same price, Taco Bueno has a whole meal and an enormous drink. Or a couple bucks more gets you a huge combo platter at D’Leon’s.
To kind of change the subject, Wendy’s is another place that has drastically jacked up their prices. Their “value menu” used to be all 99 cents, and now the prices have gone up while the sizes of things like fries and drinks have shrunk.
I know there are limitations on comparing prices now to prices several years ago, but as a fast food junkie, I am a competition-conscious comparison shopper. McDonald’s and Burger King’s value menus have remained virtually unchanged in the past five years or so.
Nickel-and-diming fast food customers is a death wish.
Price isn’t my issue with them. I’m willing to pay more for food if I’m comfortable with the environment and the food tastes good. Amigo’s fails in both regards in my experiences.
If we eat bad, we will go to Amigo’s ... it is fairly pricy though. I just think overall the market is WAY crowded anymore ... they also haven’t done enough to keep up like others have said. I’d still pick Amigo’s over most of the other “fast” food Mexican restaurants.
“but as a fast food junkie”
you too?
What exactly is doing enough to keep up with others? What is it that others are doing that is working? Just curious what people think progress is in this realm.
I mean, for the sake of argument, one could claim that Amigo’s has left its competition in the dust when it comes to diversifying its product. First was Kings, then the donuts, then the coffee ... I think I would actually prefer Amigo’s get rid of all that extra stuff and just focus on greasy unauthentic quasi-Mexican food.
Look at In-N-Out. That place is an icon by doing virtually nothing different for 50 years. The prices have recently started to creep up a little more, but they do what they do so well that it’s justifiable.
I kind of like the King’s synergy because I can get two decent cheeseburgers at Amigo’s on Thursdays for $1.29. And the Tuesday special isn’t bad either. I don’t think I’ve ever ordered anything beyond a taco, sub-$2 burrito or burger at Amigos/Kings since ever. When I was a student I could get two bean burritos for a buck.
I don’t think it’s Amigos pricing that’s hurting as much as the competition. I’m always on the lookout for better fast Mexican food and Lincoln has that in spades right now. It’s a different market now than it was 10 years ago.
About four years ago Amigos tried to sell soft corn shell tacos with cilantro and onion like you can get at any of the great little Mexican places in town but those tacos were bad. They can’t compete with the new, just as cheap, better food.
I wonder about that 33rd & Pioneers location too. I drive by there twice a day and ever since Jimmy John’s opened next door I’ve noticed a big shift in business.
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