TacoTime

This article is about the restaurant chain's operations outside of western Washington. For the restaurant chain primarily in western Washington, see Taco Time Northwest.
TacoTime
Company typePrivate
IndustryFood
FoundedJanuary 1960; 64 years ago (1960-01)
Eugene, Oregon, U.S.
FounderRon Fraedrick (1928–2015)
HeadquartersScottsdale, Arizona, U.S. (2003)
Number of locations
Over 300 (2010)
Area served
Key people
Kevin Gingrich
(Brand President)
ProductsTacos, burritos, and other Tex-Mex cuisine-related
fast food
OwnerMTY Food Group
ParentKahala Brands
Websitetacotime.com

Taco Time (stylized as TacoTime) is an American fast-food restaurant chain specializing in Mexican-American food.[1][2] The chain has over 226 locations in the United States and 74 locations in Western Canada.[3][4] It was founded in Eugene, Oregon, in 1960 by Ron Fraedrick.[5][6][7]

History

The chain was founded in Eugene by Ron Fraedrick (1928–2015), who opened the first restaurant near his alma mater, the University of Oregon, at 13th Avenue and High Street in January 1960.[5][6]

In 1962, the first Taco Time franchise opened in White Center, Washington.[8] [9] In the 1970s, the company expanded to 48 restaurants in seven Western states.[9] In 1978, the company franchised its first international restaurant in Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada.[9]

In 1979, Taco Time Northwest became a licensee with the rights to franchise and operate the Taco Time concept independently.[2][8] Taco Time Northwest's operating region includes western Washington from Longview to the Canada–United States border and the eastern Washington cities of Wenatchee and Moses Lake.

In 1984, food at a location in The Dalles was allegedly poisoned by members of the Rajneesh movement in a bioterror attack.[10]

Taco Time has since expanded, now holding more than 300 franchises in the United States, Canada, Kuwait, and Netherlands Antilles (Curaçao). During the 1990s, there were also multiple locations in Greece.[11]

In 2003, the company was bought by Kahala Brands of Scottsdale, Arizona.[9]

References

  1. ^ Group, T.P.L.; Arden, L. (2010). 220 Best Franchises to Buy: The Essential Sourcebook for Evaluating the Best Franchise Opportunities. Crown Publishing Group. p. pt258-259. ISBN 978-0-307-43211-7. Retrieved November 16, 2017. {{cite book}}: |last1= has generic name (help)
  2. ^ a b "This Taco Chain Isn't Really About The Tacos". Food & Wine. October 26, 2017. Retrieved November 16, 2017.
  3. ^ "3 years after hoax, Bethel will have its tacos". KTOO. September 3, 2015. Retrieved November 16, 2017.
  4. ^ "Soiled plastic in his taco, then poor customer service". Statesman Journal. April 26, 2015. Retrieved November 16, 2017.
  5. ^ a b Barker, George (December 14, 1984). "Taco Time: Original structure moves to Springfield". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). p. 1D.
  6. ^ a b "Taco Time founder named top retailer". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). August 11, 1987. p. 2B.
  7. ^ "The TacoTime Brand Story | TacoTime Franchise | Mexican Restaurant Franchise". Retrieved 2020-04-24.
  8. ^ a b Radford, Dean (May 26, 2012). "Renton-based Taco Time marks 50th anniversary". Renton Reporter. Retrieved September 4, 2015.
  9. ^ a b c d Baker, Mark (October 1, 2017). "Man who started Taco Time in Eugene remembered". The Register-Guard. Retrieved November 16, 2017.
  10. ^ Dylan Thuras (9 January 2014). "The Secret's in the Sauce: Bioterror at the Salsa Bar". Slate.com.
  11. ^ Restaurant Business. Restaurant Business. 1996. p. 54. Retrieved November 16, 2017.