"Lazy" Business Decisions?

Lazy Burrito, Mystic (The Day)

When Lazy Burrito came here to Colchester a few years ago, I thought the name was lame and based on negative stereotypes of Mexicans.   In spite of a restaurant name that needed more thought, I gave them a try.    It was not worth the money and I was hit with a hefty surcharge for adding guacamole.    When I left information there several times about direct mail advertising, nobody responded.   In fact, I never saw or heard advertising anywhere for this new business.    I was hopeful this new arrival would succeed, but my less than impressive firsthand experience coupled with their "lazy" attitude toward marketing made the news of their closing unsurprising. Lazy Burrito reopened in East Lyme in a store that had no atmosphere whatsoever and again no advertising.   The Mystic location didn't look too impressive, either.   Now all Lazy Burrito stores have been suddenly shut down as news breaks from The Day about how the owner received a $49,502 grant and a $100,398 loan under Gov. Dannel P. Malloy's Small Business Express Program in June 2012.    This state aid yielded a net gain of three temporary jobs, and none of the loan has been paid back.   Why did State Representative Linda Orange of Colchester recommend this aid?   The owner had only been in business since 2009 with the now-defunct Gilbertie's Restaurant in Colchester.   The Colchester Lazy Burrito was opened next door in 2011.    The track record was - and is - questionable.   I hope this is not typical state management of this program.   There are other local entrepreneurs who have better business plans and deserve some help.    As taxpayers, we should get this loan money back.