Hellbender Burritos Has New Owners, Same Recipe for Success
Plus, new details in skier death at Timberline, and Tucker County's representatives in Charleston mum on details for upcoming legislative session
For the many fans of Hellbender Burritos, it’s been a long ten months of waiting and hoping that someone would reopen the beloved restaurant in Davis since it closed in March.
The cavalry has arrived.
A group of four men with ties to the area recently purchased the restaurant and hope to reopen it in early February after some upgrades, especially in the kitchen. However, they vow that the place will still look and feel very much like the Hellbender of old.
“We don’t have a big desire to change anything. We’re buying it because we love it,” said Bill Kruse, an attorney and one of the new owners.
The closing of the iconic restaurant sparked an outpouring of grief among fans of its homey vibe and its proudly not-authentic Mexican cuisine, including the enormous burritos.
The new owners say they might bring back some old favorites that were dropped from the menu in recent years, but they are keeping those items a secret for now. Other than that, the menu that built such a loyal following at the restaurant will largely stay the same.
“We respect the importance of Hellbender for everyone,” said Rubén García, another owner.
García is a trained chef who, among other culinary accomplishments, helped famed chef José Andrés open several restaurants. However, the kitchen will be run by Eric Safran, who cooked at Hellbender under the previous owners. Safran has also worked at Picnic taco shop in Thomas, which is now closed, and at the Billy Motel.
The new Hellbender Burritos will be managed by Kelly Talbot, an event planner and local celebrity bartender who has worked at Stumptown Ales, White Grass, Timberline Mountain, the Purple Fiddle, and Trail Labs.
New co-owner Neil Butara is putting his woodworking expertise to work sprucing up the interior. He said most of the changes will be subtle, like fresh paint and new lighting. Butara said he also hopes to improve the flow of the place for customers, and create better options in the bar area for people to sit and enjoy a beer or a burrito.
Further down the road, there are plans for speakeasy-style improvements to the upstairs area, perhaps with an area for serving drinks, and a later closing hour.
New co-owner Christopher Ringenbach, a part-time coach for the Timberline Race Team who works in foreign policy, said the restaurant’s previous owners, Robert and Melissa Borowitz, have been extremely helpful in preparing the restaurant to reopen.
Ringenbach said customers should expect to see all four of the new owners in the restaurant frequently. Kruse’s primary residence is in Canaan Valley, and the other three owners have visited the area regularly for years and are around most weekends.
The four men said they have heard an outpouring of support and gratitude from people since word spread that Hellbender Burritos will reopen soon.
“I told my wife, I’ve never been so loved in my life,” Kruse said with a laugh.
More News
Skier Fell From Chairlift at Timberline, Official Confirms, but Scant Details Provided in Fatality
A person who died January 4 at Timberline Mountain appears to have suffered a medical emergency on a chairlift, leading to a fall from a substantial height, according to Tucker County Sheriff Jake Kopec.
Tucker County Ambulance Authority President Dennis Filler said EMS responded to the incident, but he had no information about the official cause of the person’s death. Filler said the person who died was in his 60s. Filler said he didn’t know where the person was from.
Kopec said he had no additional information, because law enforcement didn’t respond to the scene. He added that he has directed his Office of Emergency Management to look into the protocols for how such situations should be handled to make sure all the proper authorities are notified of and respond to 911 calls.
Timberline announced the fatality on Facebook but provided no details, saying the incident is under investigation.
Another skier died in March at Timberline Mountain after suffering a “medical emergency” and crashing into a tree.
Local Representatives Silent on Data Centers as WV Legislature Prepares to Return
West Virginia’s 2026 regular legislative session is scheduled to begin January 14, so Country Roads News sent emails and made phone calls to Senate President Randy Smith, Senator Jay Taylor, and Delegate John Paul Hott seeking comment on their plans regarding data center legislation. None responded.
The three Republicans represent Tucker County in the West Virginia legislature.
Some lawmakers, including Smith, have expressed interest in making changes to a state law enacted last year that deregulated the data center industry and overrode any local control of such facilities.
Meanwhile two new media reports, one by the Associated Press and another by the Washington Post, document growing local opposition to data centers across the America.
Editor’s Note: Thank You for Great Start in 2026
I’m often surprised to see which stories generate new subscriptions. Case in point; my editor’s note published December 23.
That short edition was simply a holiday-season thank you note to readers for your support as Country Roads News passed its two-year anniversary. It didn’t contain any news. And yet, it sparked a burst of new paid subscriptions.
That show of support convinced me that we can afford to have my colleague Mat Cloak attend “Tucker County Day” in Charleston during the upcoming legislative session. It seems especially important to be there this year, given all the recent developments related to data centers. Other important local topics also will come up.
It’s just one of the many ways that your financial support matters.
Dan
Eric’s last name is Safran! I’m happy for you Rob and Melissa. Good luck to all!
Kelly is a great staffer at White Grass, yet not mentioned, and our feelings are hurt. Not really, we just feel like chopped liver!