When the owner of 5 Star Burgers in Taos began talking about retiring and selling the business, employees worried whether Bob Gontram could find a buyer. The restaurant that creates a burger with organic beef has been a staple in this Northern New Mexico town for nearly 16 years.
Though Sandra Reynolds, an Air Force veteran, had worked as the business’ general manager for about 14 years, she wasn’t sure whether to take that next step as a restaurant owner.
“It wasn’t a long-term goal. But I thought if he closed the restaurant because he couldn’t find a buyer, then I would know what to do. I put in a lot of blood, sweat and tears over the years,” Reynolds said. “The locals were begging me, ‘Please, Sandy, buy the restaurant. Don’t let it shut down.’ I needed to buy it.”
5 Star Burgers in Taos is one of the few restaurants open seven days a week in the 10,000-resident mountain town, although the population can swell up to 40,000 with tourists or visitors attending events, such as art festivals, soccer tournaments or participating in other activities such as skiing. The restaurant has also garnered national recognition as Eater Magazine has named it one of the top eight essential restaurants and the go-to burger spot in town. Taos has about 60 independently owned restaurants, according to the town’s tourism department.
“I never thought in my life I’d become a business owner,” said Reynolds, a retired master sergeant who ran an aviation support squad and now has 32 full-time and part-time employees. “I never went to business school but at the restaurant I could fix whatever is broken and I do know how to run a team.”
Reynolds, who served in the Kosovo and Bosnian wars, said her military training has helped her see the big picture to make the restaurant run more efficiently and recognize how to put people’s skill strengths to work. “It’s a machine and everyone fits in. Sometimes it feels like it’s a basketball game and we’ve got five players on the floor and everything gets done,” she said, adding that 5 Star made about $1.8 million in sales in 2023.
Reynolds went to The Loan Fund after the owner approached her about purchasing the business. Gontram was looking for employees to pass his two hamburger restaurants to. One of his longtime employees at the 5 Star Burger located in Albuquerque came to The Loan Fund for financing and told Reynolds about his positive experience in working with the nonprofit lender.
Reynolds said one of the loan officers “went to bat” for her by answering her questions, helping her with the paperwork and giving her advice as the application moved through the process.
“He said, ‘This is like a marriage. We are married to you, you know. It’s not just a loan. We are partners now and partners help you out.’ That felt good to me to have that support. It helps with the stress because owning a business can be very stressful. It feels good to know that someone has your back.”