Mad Jack’s Burritos opens Saturday

Mad Jack’s Western Style Burritos in Basin opens Saturday. 

Jen, Tom, Nick and Jack Olmstead have been working hard to turn a vacant lot on C Street, across from Courthouse Square, into a fun place to eat.

When asked why they wanted to have a food truck, Tom replied, “I have to be an entrepreneur. We have the campground (Liberty Ranch) and I love the food trailers all throughout the Basin.” 

He said he never knows where they are even, though some do post on social media. To have one that’s stationary made sense. Plus, they are permanently on town utilities which was an important part of the equation. Both he and Jen love doing for the community and being a part of it. 

He thought Basin needed more restaurants. “The Copper Corner is great. A sit down, breakfast, family place.” Like many other businesses, he knows it has a hard time keeping staff. That limits operating hours. Jack’s regular days/hours will be Friday, Saturday and Sunday 11 a.m. - 7:30 p.m. This will give people evening and Sunday options. 

“I know how it is. I’d love to eat out every day but can’t afford it. I figure anyone at the courthouse or any of the local businesses, they can plan on eating at Mad Jack’s on Friday evening. Hopefully, we will get a good lunch crowd on Friday. Then Saturday and Sunday you’ve got everybody.”

 He added that Google Maps directs tourist traveling from south of Basin that are heading to Yellowstone/Cody to go right by Mad Jack’s.  He anticipates 10% - 25% will be tourists. That is part of the reason Jack’s will not be open all year long. That is a big chunk of potential clients who won’t be around. They anticipate being open now through Basin’s Home for the Holidays, which is the Saturday after Thanksgiving. 

Why burritos? Jen said they make burritos about once a week at home and have played with different seasonings and meat. Tom added he is pretty good at it. When he lived in Colorado he went to the original Chipotles.  It wasn’t a chain yet. The concept of building your own burrito with lots of choices in a short amount of time was an idea he really liked. So much so they are using the concept at Jack’s.

There will be 20-some items on the menu. A bit unusual for a food trailer to have so many. They are confident at the speed the customer line will go because of the system they set up. Customers will start at a large table that has menus/order forms. The customer fills out the form and hands it through the window. The goal is to have the order done within five minutes. They also plan on having a hot sauce bar. Customers can also choose to build a bowl from those 20 ingredients. 

The burritos and bowls side of the business is named for their son Jack, who is 13. Jen & Tom wanted to give Nick, who is 17, an opportunity too. They asked him to come up with a cool name for a hut that will sell snow cones and ice cream as part of the business. He came up with Nick’s Chill Shack. 

There are also picnic tables and gazebos on the site. The Olmsteads think that this adds to the appeal as the whole family can sit outdoors and eat together. They also hope it will become a hangout of sorts for families and the older crowd. On days they are not open, the space could be rented for get-togethers like class or family reunions. They will be installing strings of white lights and speakers. Tom promises there will not be blaring music. 

Also to come is the story of Mad Jack’s jail break attempt. The thrilling event will be memorialized on a mural. 

The first two weekends they are open will only be Saturday & Sunday. (June 14, 15, 21, 22). Then the regular three days a week schedule will start.