Operations

Michelin‑starred restaurateur bets on fast casual tacos brand

Left to Right: Niko Moschouris, Brandon Zarb, Mel Fuechtmann, Branden McRill Photo Credit: Abby Bartes

August 4, 2025

Lola's Taco Bar is set to open its first location in suburban Detroit in September, blending high-end culinary expertise with fast-service efficiency, thanks to founders Branden McRill, co-founder of the Michelin-starred Rebelle in New York; chef Brandon Zarb, with a background at taco bars like Chicago's Big Star; hospitality operator Mel Fuechtmann; and Niko Moschouris, a developer who helped scale Subway franchises.

"Fast casual can and should be rooted in community, quality, and hospitality," McRill said in a company press release. "We're taking everything we learned from fine dining, stripping it of all the unnecessary and labor-intensive elements, and are creating a quick-service restaurant that wows guests at scale. Lola's is out to prove you can deliver chef-driven flavors, table-touch hospitality, and still run a P&L that makes investors smile."

Lola's is repurposing a 2,200-square-foot former Boston Market, a common footprint in suburban strip centers, to prove its model is easily replicable. The service model combines counter ordering with select table-side touches to ensure high customer throughput with minimal staffing, McRill said.

The menu

The menu, designed by Zarb, focuses on tacos, bowls and burritos with house-made salsas and carefully sourced proteins. It includes signature items like al pastor shaved directly from a spit and family-sized rotisserie chicken meals. The restaurant will also offer vegan and vegetarian options, as well as a beverage program with draft margaritas and zero-proof cocktails.

Moschouris is responsible for the brand's operational strategy, bringing decades of franchising and real estate experience. Project build-out costs range between $500,000 and $750,000, with a goal of an 18-month payback period.

"This concept marries quick-service efficiency with intentional hospitality," Moschouris said in the release. "The systems we're building now are designed to support opening 10 units in the next 24 months and many more beyond that."

Lola's is also committed to community engagement through its "The Good Taco" initiative, where a portion of proceeds from a rotating taco will be donated to local schools and charities. The brand plans to expand through company-owned locations, with sights set on downtown Detroit and other high-growth markets in the Midwest.

"We've built Lola's to be uniquely scalable without losing the human touch," McRill said. "Our guests will feel the difference, and our partners will see it in the numbers."

The first Lola's Taco Bar location will open in fall in suburban Detroit, with a lean staff of 12-15 employees per store. The partners are evaluating additional sites for future expansion.