Oak Harbor’s favorite burrito joint to reopen

Jumbo Burrito will be reopening soon after a three-and-a-half-month closure.

By Sam Fletcher • April 16, 2024 1:30 am

A family-owned restaurant that has the reputation for being one of the busiest and best-loved businesses in Oak Harbor will be reopening soon after a three-and-a-half-month closure.

Jumbo Burrito, located on Highway 20, is set to open its door at the end of April.

On Jan. 14, following a windstorm and subfreezing temperatures, owner Eli Loera was about to close down shop for the day when the sound of dripping water came from a pipe. As he went to examine the cause, the pipe exploded.

The whole place flooded, Loera said, soaking the equipment. The biggest problem was the damage to the walls. It took three weeks for insurance to assess the claim and, by then, everything was ruined.

He said that the whole family depends on the restaurant, so it’s been hard. Everyone’s looking forward to reopening.

“Our bodies just naturally go, go, go, and being shut down almost three and a half months, it’s just been crazy,” he said. “That’s a long time to wait here for the money, but thankfully I left this to the big man above and he’s got plans, you know? I’m excited to reopen up and give the town what they want.”

The Loera family, comprised of Loera’s parents and his four sisters, originally came from Los Angeles. Jumbo Burrito was the vision of Loera’s father, Eli Loera Sr., who passed away at the end of 2022. It started as a food truck in 2014, and seven months later they opened doors in their current location.

“(My dad) was a hustler,” Loera said. “He always wanted more for us, and he always wanted to be in the food industry, and he took his chances. We’re here now, and it’s been a blessing since then.”

The closure has been the biggest challenge since Loera took over as owner.

“We really got put into test,” he said, “and I’m thankful for what he showed me and lectured me with to become a better person and take care of what I need to take care of.”

Jumbo Burrito’s structure is a bit like Chipotle or Subway, he said, where customers come in and customize their order, but it’s family-run, with unique flavors and fresh ingredients.

The family component is apparent, he said. They treat first-time guests like regulars.

Since they had to shut doors in January, there has been a surge of public support. Around town, people approach Loera wanting updates. It’s uplifting, he said, that he finally has an answer for them.

“It’s been a roller coaster, but we’re coming down to the wire now, so it’s exciting for me,” he said.