Franchising
Rusty Taco adding 14 units by year's end
July 10, 2024
Rusty Taco, a street-style taco restaurant with 30 locations, is opening 14 units by year's end.
"There's no better way to spend time with your loved ones than to relax and eat tacos," Denise Fenton, co-founder and brand director, said in a company press release. "Our brand brings an approachable street-taco experience that can be a part of any community. Our recent and upcoming openings allow us to reach more guests in both new and existing markets and we are excited about our growth in the year ahead and beyond."
Rusty Taco recently reopened its Dubuque, Iowa, location under new ownership and made its debut in Atlanta with an opening in Summerhill, the first of two restaurants coming to Georgia. The second will open in Decatur by late summer. Rusty Taco also expanded its existing market presence, opening last month in Pleasant View, Utah. To cap off the year, it will add a store in Rockford, Illinois.
"We are thrilled to be growing the Rusty Taco brand with proven restaurant operators in new markets," President Daniel Smith said in the release. "It is an exciting time at Rusty Taco, with so many restaurants coming to new communities. We are dialed in on our traditional and non-traditional expansion plans, seeking interested franchisees who want to take advantage of our room for growth and strong community appeal."
In addition to developing in local neighborhoods, Rusty Taco is focused on non-traditional development, securing a partnership with Good 2 Go Eats, a convenience store chain with 75 locations. The first Rusty Taco inside a Good 2 Go store opened in Ammon, Idaho, in 2023, followed by the signing of an additional eight units. A location opened in Herriman, Utah, in April 2024, with more units planned for Denver and Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Beyond the convenience store model, Rusty Taco has established a proof of concept in other non-traditional formats, including experience in university dining and a spot in Concourse D of Dulles International Airport in Virginia. Rusty Taco also has a concessions location at Salt River Fields, the spring training home of the Arizona Diamondbacks and Colorado Rockies.
