Topic: Taco Bell
started by: Twiggs50
Posted by Twiggs50 on Aug. 25 2015,8:25 pm
Just found out Taco Bell is closing soon. What the hell happened?
Posted by nzeroesc on Aug. 26 2015,3:02 am
Haven't noticed any changes there, but honestly couldn't tell you the last time I ate there either. I stand corrected. Posted by one of the owners on Facebook...
It's with a heavy heart that we are announcing the closing of Taco Bell on September 10th. The corporate demands of mandatory upgrades that are put on franchisees have gotten to a point where we can not keep up with the expense of the upgrades. We are disappointed as we loved all the support and business that you all gave to us. This was not a decision that was made easily and want to Thank You for a wonderful last 5 years!
Posted by Marneman on Aug. 29 2015,12:50 am
It's a shame that they are going out of business because the "corporate" office mandates they need to do upgrades that come out of the owner/franchisers pockets with no help from the corporation. That's how we lost our old KFC(luckly we were able to get a new one), and our Pizza Hut.God help me now I sound like a liberal!
Posted by nzeroesc on Aug. 29 2015,7:28 am
I think it's a bit misleading to feel like there is "no help from corporate." All of those franchises spend millions of dollars on advertising and though that is a shared cost, there is a major benefit to it. Because of TV, radio, and print ads, when I ask you to name the top 5 fast food Mexican, chicken, or pizza restaurants, what comes to mind? Even if you don't care for their products, you know they exist, and you know what they sell. Based on name recognition alone when you are deciding on someplace to eat, you'll think of KFC first before you remember that a half dozen other places in town do broasted or fried chicken. People coming off the interstate are going to know and recognize the Taco Bell sign, and are statistically less likely to stop at Taco King, no matter how much better it may be. Just as those owners made a choice to start in business as a Taco Bell, Pizza Hut or KFC, they get to make a conscious choice to continue investing in that brand as changes come. Otherwise we would have possibly seen come and go yet another unknown chicken, pizza or mexican restaurant. Or potentially seen another success like Jakes, Plaza Morena, or whatever and whoever you feel does good chicken in town...
Yes they all required substantial investments for improvements, but that is because their name recognition and nationwide presence means that no matter where i go I should expect and receive the same experience. I don't want to find an outdated franchise without the proper equipment to make half the new menu items somewhere.
Posted by MADDOG on Aug. 29 2015,8:46 am
Maybe they can do some sort of spinoff and still stay being a business. They give it a new name and design like "Paco's Tacos" or something. There are success stories I can think of.
Posted by Self-Banished on Aug. 29 2015,9:00 am
I've seen it done many times, the owner gets tired of the franchise's demands, dumps them, changes the name and continues business. A lot depends on the contract.
Posted by nzeroesc on Aug. 29 2015,9:37 am
Seems to work well enough for Don's Crumble Beef (We swear they aren't Maid Rite) Sandwiches. 
Posted by MADDOG on Aug. 29 2015,10:00 am
They could call it Pancho Johns. 
Posted by Self-Banished on Aug. 29 2015,10:05 am
^^ I just noticed your new signature line, cool.
Posted by This is my real name on Aug. 29 2015,10:10 am
Posted by irisheyes on Aug. 29 2015,10:36 am
That brief period where Hardee's on Broadway changed their sign to "Burgers and More" comes to mind.
Posted by Self-Banished on Aug. 29 2015,12:12 pm
A lot of these fast food franchises are in trouble, changing trends, manipulative gov., activist screaming for $15 an hour.
Posted by This is my real name on Aug. 29 2015,12:57 pm
(irisheyes @ Aug. 29 2015,10:36 am)
QUOTE
That brief period where Hardee's on Broadway changed their sign to "Burgers and More" comes to mind.
I believe both locations were Burgers & More. They temporarily lost their franchise.
I don't know if it's true, but someone who actually had worked there when they switched told me it was become some employees had urinated into the pickles. He may have been full of crap, but that is what he told me.
That said, I wouldn't be surprised if it was a knockoff franchise or an independently owned place that went in there next.
Posted by Self-Banished on Aug. 29 2015,1:43 pm
Peed in the pickles??' could be worse...
Posted by Botto 82 on Aug. 29 2015,1:44 pm
Keep eating that fast food crap. Mother Mayo needs to acquire more properties. 
Just saw a Hardee's commercial for their latest cardiac arrest burger. Hot dogs, bacon and potato chips on it. Who eats this garbage? Future clients of the Scooter Store, maybe?
Posted by Self-Banished on Aug. 29 2015,1:53 pm
About the only fast food I eat anymore is Fridays at a Greek place, fantastic gyros. Otherwise I carry lunch with me, hell of a lot cheaper and better for me.
Posted by This is my real name on Aug. 29 2015,3:01 pm
(Botto 82 @ Aug. 29 2015,1:44 pm)
QUOTE
Keep eating that fast food crap. Mother Mayo needs to acquire more properties.
Just saw a Hardee's commercial for their latest cardiac arrest burger. Hot dogs, bacon and potato chips on it. Who eats this garbage? Future clients of the Scooter Store, maybe?
Just saw a Hardee's commercial for their latest cardiac arrest burger. Hot dogs, bacon and potato chips on it. Who eats this garbage? Future clients of the Scooter Store, maybe?
I'm surprised they haven't unleashed the 'Murican Freedom Burger.
Posted by hymiebravo on Aug. 30 2015,9:37 am
I'm sure that is aimed at a certain demographic. They're not going after health food fanatics. So why do health food fanatics make such an uproar about it? Did you ever eat things when you were younger, take chances. . . that you wouldn't now?
All that being said -
I think the [new] Hardees in Austin, although I'm not that thrilled about the location, is a pretty good looking building. For what it is.
Also Hardees has pretty good breakfast biscuits and their coffee isn't too bad, either.
Posted by hymiebravo on Aug. 30 2015,9:45 am
In regard to Taco Hell: Oh no! No more quality high end choices for Mexican food in Albert Lea.
I think you have to possess a certain amount of self-loathing to eat at a place like that.
Historically I have always had much more satisfying experiences with their competitor. Well except for the time they poisoned me with tainted shredded lettuce.
But I've almost just about completely forgotten about it.
Posted by Self-Banished on Aug. 30 2015,10:27 am
^^ what you bitchin' about, they obviously failed
Posted by This is my real name on Aug. 31 2015,6:39 am
(hymiebravo @ Aug. 30 2015,9:37 am)
QUOTE
I'm sure that is aimed at a certain demographic. They're not going after health food fanatics. So why do health food fanatics make such an uproar about it?
Did you ever eat things when you were younger, take chances. . . that you wouldn't now?
All that being said -
I think the [new] Hardees in Austin, although I'm not that thrilled about the location, is a pretty good looking building. For what it is.
Also Hardees has pretty good breakfast biscuits and their coffee isn't too bad, either.
Did you ever eat things when you were younger, take chances. . . that you wouldn't now?
All that being said -
I think the [new] Hardees in Austin, although I'm not that thrilled about the location, is a pretty good looking building. For what it is.
Also Hardees has pretty good breakfast biscuits and their coffee isn't too bad, either.
Although I do try to eat more healthful foods than I used to, I'm far from a health food fanatic. I absolutely would have eaten something like that when I was younger. I used to order large pizzas from Domino's with all the meats (before it was called Meatzza, Meat Lover's, Meat Sweats, or whatever it's called now) and triple cheese and eat the whole thing. I also smoked two packs a day and probably weighed about 130 pounds.
It just seems lately that gargantuan portions of meat, cheese, and fried things have been celebrated. I think that trend began when they began introducing one- and two-pound burgers about 15-20 years ago.
And you are correct that it is aimed at a demographic—the "eating is an accomplishment" demographic. It seems their whole menu has shifted in that direction. I don't eat there anymore because their food just isn't that good. The focus seems to be "let's see how outrageous we can make this" instead of on taste.
Like I said, I am not a health food fanatic. I still enjoy Jake's Pizza, and I visit Taco John's about once per week.
Posted by mrugly on Aug. 31 2015,7:33 pm
Unless i missed it no one has mentioned this one but how about putting an a&w in taco bell. They could put drive ups where the drive through is now and maybe one or two in front.
Posted by hymiebravo on Sep. 04 2015,6:03 pm
Speaking of challenge eating. . . The Old '96er -
< https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q_215iQ7KDs >
Posted by This is my real name on Sep. 05 2015,10:13 am
(mrugly @ Aug. 31 2015,7:33 pm)
QUOTE
Unless i missed it no one has mentioned this one but how about putting an a&w in taco bell. They could put drive ups where the drive through is now and maybe one or two in front.
Another A&W would be nice, but putting it there would be a nightmare for traffic and parking.
Maybe the oldest Subway could move in there and then A&W could buy the old Domino's and Subway lots, level them, and set up shop there?
Posted by Botto 82 on Sep. 05 2015,12:24 pm
It's Pigfarm Flyover central. More chain retailers will be pulling out soon. I'm surprised you still have an A&W.
Posted by nzeroesc on Sep. 05 2015,12:34 pm
(This is my real name @ Sep. 05 2015,10:13 am)
QUOTE
(mrugly @ Aug. 31 2015,7:33 pm)
QUOTE
Unless i missed it no one has mentioned this one but how about putting an a&w in taco bell. They could put drive ups where the drive through is now and maybe one or two in front.
Another A&W would be nice, but putting it there would be a nightmare for traffic and parking.
Maybe the oldest Subway could move in there and then A&W could buy the old Domino's and Subway lots, level them, and set up shop there?
Except one of the closed city council sessions a couple months ago was to discuss the purchase of 714 and 802 E Main St. That would be Subway and the former Dominos locations. They already own 804 (Phillys). This is for our grand waterfront promenade from Fountain to Albert Lea Lake.
Posted by mrugly on Sep. 05 2015,5:03 pm
Sometimes it already is a nightmare trying to turn left off of fountain st onto bridge or even to go straight. They need a stop light their or by walgreens to help with it now.
Posted by This is my real name on Sep. 06 2015,8:51 am
(mrugly @ Sep. 05 2015,5:03 pm)
QUOTE
Sometimes it already is a nightmare trying to turn left off of fountain st onto bridge or even to go straight. They need a stop light their or by walgreens to help with it now.
I agree. Even a three-way stop would be nice. I know in the past the council has dismissed such suggestions as not possible because of the layout of the streets, or some such lame excuse.
Posted by mrugly on Sep. 06 2015,9:19 am
I'd say let's try suggesting it again but the city is nuts and don't hardly listen to us much anyway. Which is a bummer. They do what they want and will do it one way or the other. But why am i to say this because we already know this and it's just the city that don't. 
Posted by This is my real name on Sep. 06 2015,2:29 pm
(mrugly @ Sep. 06 2015,9:19 am)
QUOTE
I'd say let's try suggesting it again but the city is nuts and don't hardly listen to us much anyway. Which is a bummer. They do what they want and will do it one way or the other. But why am i to say this because we already know this and it's just the city that don't.
Exactly. If it isn't in their comprehensive plan, or if a consultant paid to confirm the results they've already decided they want, it can't and won't be done.