Almost a year after its conception, new owners are hoping to revive Cortez Eatz, a local food delivery service that aims to slice the costs associated with national competitors like Door Dash, said owner Travis Turner.
Turner and his wife, Molly, took over the company around July after it cycled through three previous owners.
Molly has heard that a $15 meal can climb to $25 because of the fees associated with larger delivery brands.
“That’s terrible; that's not us,” she said.
Nationwide, the platform-to-consumer food delivery industry generated just over $70 million in revenue in 2020 – and that number is projected to keep increasing, according to data from Statista.
Cortez’s local installation of that industry is struggling to stay afloat, though.
The Turners expanded the informal business, increasing its operating hours and days and adding Walmart grocery delivery to its services. Now, Montezuma County residents can order food for delivery Monday through Saturday from 6:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Despite this, Cortez Eatz is struggling to generate and retain customers.
“We have a lot of interest in the service, but nobody actually using it,” Turner said.
In the last week, no orders have been placed, he said.
“I think the biggest problem right now is most people probably think that Cortez Eatz is dead, and they don't know that we're trying to resurrect it,” he said.
If the company doesn’t see a turnaround by March or April, it will shut down, he said.
To place an order, hungry residents can call a local eatery and mention that they want their food delivered with Cortez Eatz. The customer pays for their food and delivery fee over the phone, and the restaurant calls Cortez Eatz with the customer information.
A $5 delivery fee applies to any residence within a 5-mile radius of Cortez. For $8 to $10, Cortez Eatz will supply local cuisine to any address within 15 miles of Cortez, from the Dolores Food Market to the Ute Mountain Ute Casino. For grocery delivery, costs range from $10 to $20, and residents can complete online ordering on Walmart’s website and provide Cortez Eatz with the order number and name.
Cortez Eatz doesn’t charge restaurants anything to be included on its delivery roster, Turner said.
“Cortez Eatz doesn’t make a penny itself,” he said. “The only person that makes anything is whoever delivers the meal.”
Tips aren’t required, he said.
“There’s a lot of elderly and disabled who are stuck in their homes and can’t get out and get a good meal. Or because they can’t afford a tip, they go without ordering the meal they want,” Turner said. “And we're trying to be there for them – for everybody – without gouging wallets. COVID has completely destroyed our economy, and delivery services charging an arm and a leg, we don't feel is necessary.”
Participating business include Lotsa Pasta, Coldstone Creamery, Ocean Pearl, J. Fargo’s, Blondie’s Trophy Room, Loungin’ Lizard, La Casita, Mi Mexico, The Wigglin’ Pig, Gustavo’s Mexican Restaurant, Mona Makes, Bourque’s Cajun Country Store and Cow Camp Coffee.
While these are the restaurants that keep printed Cortez Eatz tickets with space for customer name, address and phone number, Turner said he’s willing to deliver food from others establishments, and Cortez Eatz would simply collect the delivery fee directly from the customer.
“There's not any restaurants that we refuse to work with. There’s not any customers we refuse to work with. We're just trying to make something of a service that we feel is is needed and necessary here,” he said.
The new owners have the community in mind, and are planning a way to donate delivery services for Christmas meals provided by a local church, Molly said.
Customers are encouraged to call or text 970-797-3367 for more distant orders.
