As of Nov. 27, there’s a new breakfast and lunch restaurant in Mancos.
“We opened the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, which probably wasn’t the greatest idea,” laughed Rubi Rubio, who owns the restaurant with her partner, Sam Chase.
Their restaurant, Roosters, is at 41900 U.S. Highway 160, next to the Conoco gas station where Ted’s Tacos used to be.
“People think we’re a chicken place, and I’m like, no, we’re far from a chicken place,” said Rubio. “The name was more of it being catchy, and that’s what stuck.”
Initially, they intended Roosters to be more of a breakfast joint, so that’s where the name came from.
“We kind of thought, you know, morning, a rooster wakes you up,” said Rubio. “I love chicken, I think it was me that came up with it.”
With time, they’d like to expand the menu – and maybe even lean into its name and explore more chicken options – but for now, they’re getting settled into the area and their new role as restaurateurs.
“I’ve always wanted a restaurant, and we seized this opportunity. It’s such a small town, so there’s not really a lot of places to rent out. So when the opportunity came on by, we had to take it,” Rubio said.
And they really jumped on it – they were “in talks” of renting out the space in October, signed the lease in November and opened a few weeks later.
“It was pretty fast,” said Sam Chase, Rubio’s partner and the other owner.
Aside from finances – which usually complicate dreams – the couple agreed that painting the once turquoise and blue walls white was a challenge.
“It took about four coats of us here super late at night, and getting up on the ladder, painting the beam four times too,” Chase said as he motioned to the freshly painted black beam overhead.
“It’s been a lot of learning. We got into this without 100% knowing what we were getting ourselves into. It’s been a challenge, but I think the key is to keep at it and not lose hope that things will get better,” Rubio said.
Rubio’s mother Isela has been a major help, she said, and they’re in the process of training her younger brother to take orders and do dishes. Though it’s small, Rubio said it takes more than just her and Sam to make the place run.
And their signature dish, you may be wondering?
“Green chile for sure,” said Rubio, without hesitation. “It’s a family recipe, homemade from scratch.”
It’s signature, especially in the breakfast burritos, she said.
“The breakfast burritos have been a hit,” said Rubio. “I think that’s how we’ve made it through. It’s been a week, but still.”
Aside from breakfast burritos, they offer bagel sandwiches
Roosters is open every day from 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Come spring, the hours will likely change and be extended, as they’re planning to add dinner to the menu as well.
“Come try it,” said Chase.
“Yeah, come see us. Our breakfast burritos won’t disappoint,” Rubio said.
