The owner of Bell Street Burritos is bringing his fourth overall location to Tucker later this year. Our friends over at Decaturish report that Bell Street owner Matt Hinton has signed a lease for 4053 Lawrenceville Highway for his new restaurant. Built in 1976, the approximately 2,500 square foot building was for over 30 years home to El Tapatio, a local Mexican restaurant, but after an ownership and management change, it closed last year. The restaurant is between Fellowship Road and Main Street, adjacent to a retro KFC turned Loya Insurance office.
The popular San Francisco-style burrito joint got their start at the Sweet Auburn Curb Market in late 2010 and in 2011 expanded to a brick and mortar location on Howell Mill Road. While they did well on Howell Mill, their property was sold and they were forced to close in 2012. An outpost in south Buckhead opened in 2013, followed by a location at The Stoveworks in Inman Park in 2016 which replaced a short-lived location in the nearby Irwin Street Market.
In general, Bell Street is meant to emulate Tortillas, the beloved Mission-style burrito joint that shuttered its lone outpost on Ponce de Leon Avenue in 2013 after 19 years in business.
Bell Street's upcoming opening is a bit of a homecoming for Hinton who grew up not far from nearby Main Street Tucker and is a fan of its famous restaurant, Matthew's Cafeteria.
Hinton joins the growing Tucker restaurant community at a time when fellow burrito operators - both local and national - have recently opened.
Soon-to-be southern California-based Chipotle Mexican Grill opened on Hugh Howell Road at Lawrenceville Highway last February, followed by Atlanta-based mini-chain Willy's Mexicana Grill which opened a new restaurant on LaVista Road near Northlake Mall last September. Atlanta-based chain Moe's Southwest Grill operates two locations in Tucker, one of which is close to the Chipotle and in the same center as Magnolia Room Cafeteria.
Are you excited for the opening of Bell Street Burritos in Tucker? What is your favorite burrito joint in metro Atlanta? What other type of restaurant would you like to see open in Tucker?
Please share your thoughts below.