Costa Vida was founded in Layton, Utah, in 2003 by husband and wife team JD and Sarah Gardner. After a trip to the coast of Baja Mexico, the pair wanted to keep both the feeling, as well as the flavor, of warm beaches and Mexican cuisine. The couple opened their first restaurant in Leyton, Utah.
Today, the company operates a chain of franchises across the US. There are currently 50 locations, but a company spokesperson has stated that there are 217 scheduled to be opened in the next 5 years. Two franchisees, Sean Collins and Dave Rutter, liked the restaurant so much that they purchased the company in 2004. The company opened their first international location, in Alberta, Canada, in 2016. The company currently offers only multi-franchise operations, meaning that a person needs to be willing to take on 3 franchise locations, or more.
Each location makes tortillas from scratch, as well as their seasoned pork and beef dishes, which are slow cooked for several hours before serving.
Costa VidaCosta Vida was founded in Layton, Utah, in 2003 by husband and wife team JD and Sarah Gardner. After a trip to the coast of Baja Mexico, the pair wanted to keep both the feeling, as well as the flavor, of warm beaches and Mexican cuisine. The couple opened their first restaurant in Leyton, Utah.
Today, the company operates a chain of franchises across the US. There are currently 50 locations, but a company spokesperson has stated that there are 217 scheduled to be opened in the next 5 years. Two franchisees, Sean Collins and Dave Rutter, liked the restaurant so much that they purchased the company in 2004. The company opened their first international location, in Alberta, Canada, in 2016. The company currently offers only multi-franchise operations, meaning that a person needs to be willing to take on 3 franchise locations, or more.
Each location makes tortillas from scratch, as well as their seasoned pork and beef dishes, which are slow cooked for several hours before serving.
I worked at Costa Vida from October to December last year. I am an adult with disabilities and am limited to the length of time I can work. I was asked to stay an hour later than my shift (which was a usual thing) and I complied. When I asked to be off-boarded, I was told I needed to work another 40 minutes which I could not physically do. I got upset and yelled and quit. I’m sorry I lost my temper but I shouldn’t have been treated like that.
Tucson AZ Wilmot and Broadway.
Been coming here for 4 months. Very polite people was getting a senior discount all this time then on Nov 8th 2019 230pm the lady at the register wouldnt give me a senior discount (terrible ) very clipped tone from employee. Won’t come back
I have always loved Costa Vida and the food that they serve. When my town got a drive through at theirs I was excited to be able to use it. Every single time that I have used the drive through though, my food has never been correct, I recently ordered a sweet pork salad and when I got my salad home I had 3 little pieces of sweet pork in my salad, only 3!!! I didn’t pay 8$ for a half a cup of lettuce, I am disappointed and have given them many times to redeem themselves and it has yet to get better. The wait time in the drive thru takes like 20 minuets, which I really wouldn’t mind if my food would come out correct.
I’m so disappointed…
My son got a gift card from school, this year mind you, and he went to redeem it and it was expired. It had a 2015 date on it.
I can’t believe that it wasn’t honored by your store. One burrito for a cute boy that is struggling in school and got a reward that turned out not to be a reward.
I realize this is not your fault or problem. I will take it up with the school too, but I wish it would have been handled differently at your Spanish Fork location.
Sincerely,
Sorena Marble
My wife and I went to the lower division location in spokane Washington. We normally go to the upper division (y) location but we were doing some shopping at Norristown mall and said well why not….wow that was a mistake!! The atmosphere and staff were horid.
And out of all the people you expect to NOT get a lousy attitude from is the manager. Believe her name was alex.
My wife and I are in our late 50’s and don’t have time to deal with lousy customer service. We will spend our hard earned money elsewhere. Her attitude was nasty and mean.
Think this might be our last visit to costa.
Ordered online from work and had my boyfriend pick up the order. We got three smothered burritos, an order of shredded beef tacos, chips & guac, and 3 drinks. We did not receive the chips and guac or the drinks. And we also got no pico de gallo with any of the burritos. The tacos had only beef, they never gave me my cilantro, lime, or salsa. Called back to ask for a merch card since we paid for 4 of the items we never received and the items we did receive never got any of the sides/toppings. & the manager was unable to reimburse us.
Been trying to get my Daughter’s W2 and the store in Kalispell MT has know idea how this works and apparently they have no hr or manager. we get the run aroung from a lady that says contact payroll and still can’t give us a name or number for this payroll department. we are no closer to get the info we need. I will be going to the BBB to file a complaint there as well.
Are you looking for a corporate real estate manager to help growth the restaurant concept? I am a proven real estate professional who would love to join the company. I had a great experience yesterday at the new Flower Mound, TX location and think this concept is going to take off. Thank you.
Eric
apparently customers have to make sure that there attitudes are up to snuff or the shift leader who says she is the store manager will refuse service even tho I didnt curse or say anything duragatory? Weird she just tosses me out the door !! Didn’t realize you guys gave such authority to employees but ok clearly she helps pay the bills…
Let me start by saying that I used to be a three or four burrito a week customer of yours and on occasion my wife would also get an entree After Today and the way I was talked to and treated I will never ever use your establishment again in my life and I can assure you that any person that I come in contact with I will make sure they know to never go in one of your stores just to be treated like a dollar sign!! IM A CUSTOMER FOR GOD SAKES !!! I can assure you that if that kind of behavior keeps up in that restaurant you will never ever ever make it because of eventually word-of-mouth will catch up and business will slow when someone gets bad service or is treated in the manner I was treated they remember that and they tell people that and when it’s two people that’s even more bad rap and I know two people being upset might seem small in the large-scale but it’s really not because if I’m treated in such a way who else is being treated like crap by a couple of bad apples at your Andersen and fourth pl I’m in customer service and last I checked I am there to service the customer not treat them like crap, not throw them out of my store, not cover my name tag with my hand, tell them I’m the manager when I’m not not, get told your not a regular customer cause she hasn’t seen you before have bank statements!!, get told their going to call the cops on them cuz I can do whatever I want, tell them to get the hell out of the store shall I go on…
Those are all things that happened in one of your locations can you believe it cuz I can I was there so pissed I was shaking and let me assure you that I will take this to the highest degree I will complain to everybody that will listen im going to take it to every review site I can I will go on every blog that I work on (I.T. guy) make sure that everybody knows how you guys treat people think my blogs are right around 62,000 followers
I don’t want free food I want action these two employees need to sincerely be trained in thorough customer service their people skills are horrible!! Wether I’m irritating or not.
Depending on how this all gets handled and resolved is solely going to effect how move on with this situation… Honestly it’s that serious to me I have never been so mistreated and embarrassed in my life.
This is a complaint about your district manager, Brian Hess.
On 5-15-17 at 1:04 PM Chk 58, Receipt# 100005. I was having lunch at your store number 022 in Ogden Utah. I was on my phone and eating my lunch when a man came up to me and demanded that I dismiss his citation. I work for Ogden city. When I was trying to tell him what he needed to do he stated in a loud voice, “I DON’T HAVE TIME FOR THIS S**T” and walked away. I watched him walk behind the counter. I asked the employee who was cleaning the dining area who it was and was told that it was Brian Hess the district manager.
I am a long time customer who eats at this store more than 4 times a week for the past year. We even went to Costa Vida for mother’s day. I do not believe this is the way any customer should be tread by any employee let alone the district manager.
I believe that the district manager should me an example to his employee. I also believe that a district manager reflects the polices and beliefs of the company they work for. Is this the way Costa Vida believes that their customs should be treated?
When I went to the new manager and told him what happen he apologized for the district manager. When I requested how I could contact corporate office he would not tell me how. I had the impression that he was very uncomfortable just talking to me about this.
Over the past few weeks I have noticed that employees I have know have left. Now I know why.
I and my family have enjoyed eating at Costa Vida for some time. I am not sure if we will in the future.
I’ll await your response.
My cell number is 801-573-XXXXX
I’ll await your reponse and handling before I post comments online. That’s only fare… to give you the opportunity to correct this mishap. Thank you.
My wife picked up a large to-go order a little over a hour ago. 6 adult 3 kids. We didn’t get the kids drinks and two of the adult meals didn’t get the dressings. So I was sent down to the store to get the dressings and see about a credit for the kids drinks. The gal at the register asked me what she could help me with. I explained to her that we didn’t get….at that time a guy by the name of “Manny” took over…then I retold him what had happened…he said that he did all of the orders and that we should of gotten everything… then the next thing out of his mouth was How many was your order…I wasn’t sure I said said kids meals and 8 meals.. I didn’t do 8 kids meals?! I said It’s 6 adults? 3 or 4 kids meals… I felt like I was being questioned?! Then I said, you think I came all the
way back down here to pull a fast one…over 2 dressings and 2 or 3 kids drinks!? Then he said have your wife Linda come down a straighten out the order?!?! Then I told Manny…as I pushed back to him the dressing two dressing..that he can keep the dressings! And further more, I’ll not be coming back to this place after being a long time customer. Not once during the conversation did Manny every say “Sorry you didn’t get the dressings or drinks!! Now I enjoy eat out a lot. This the first time I’ve taken the time to to do this! Lol over dressing and a couple of kids drinks. And I along with my wife Linda own an operate “Carmack food services” we have for the past 18 years ran the Eaglewood Event Center in NSL. your man Manny just lost a long time customer over dressing and kids drinks.
Fyi… The dressing are a key part of the dinning experience with your meals. Signed not happy with Manny!