Following months of rumors, signage now confirms that the former Pollo Tropical on LaVista Road in Tucker will reopen as a Del Taco Fresh Mexican Grill. The Tucker Pollo Tropical was one of nine restaurants that parent company Fiesta Restaurant Group closed this past December amidst a complete retreat from the Atlanta market. The Tucker restaurant, which opened in September 2016, is located in a freestanding outparcel of a Target store.
Real estate sources tell ToNeTo Atlanta that Del Taco has had its eyes on Tucker for some time and reportedly worked on a deal to take over the Chevron site across the street from where they will now open.
The menu at Del Taco focuses on burritos and tacos, but burgers, fries, shakes and salads are also offered. Recently the Lake Forest, California chain added Beyond Meat to its menu and offers the plant-based protein as an option in its burritos and tacos.
Del Taco, which is actively celebrating its 55th birthday, currently has seventeen locations in Georgia, including two other previously converted Pollo Tropical restaurants in Gainesville and Hiram. Another location on Cobb Parkway in Smyrna is a converted El Pollo Loco, another quick-serve chicken chain that previously left the Atlanta market.
Sources indicate that in addition to the Tucker location, Del Taco restaurants are likely to replace former Pollo Tropical restaurants on Duluth Highway in Lawrenceville and Buford Drive in Buford.
Despite their growth and apparent success, a Del Taco on Roswell in East Cobb closed last summer after about three years in business.
Elsewhere in metro Atlanta, ToNeTo Atlanta first reported on July 2 that Joella's Hot Chicken, a Louisville, Kentucky-based hot chicken chain, had secured four former Pollo Tropical restaurants to open new Joella's. Earlier this week, the company officially confirmed the openings - slated for Cumberland, Kennesaw, Newnan and Woodstock - and indicated they will start to open later this summer.
Another former Pollo Tropical in Marietta reopened last month as a Pollo Campero, while yet another former location in Johns Creek reopened last year as an Arby's.
Del Taco provides yet another option for casual Mexican fare and joins Chipotle Mexican Grill, Moe's Southwest Grill, Willy's Mexicana Grill and the newly opened Bell Street Burritos in offering assorted quick-serve tacos and burritos in Tucker.
The opening of Del Taco provides a new, less expensive option for the area after Taco Bell along LaVista Road in front of Jason's Deli closed in 2010. The former Taco Bell was subsequently demolished and reopened in 2011 as a Chick-fil-A restaurant.
Are you excited for the opening of Del Taco in Tucker? What other restaurants would you like to see open in the Tucker/Northlake area? What is your favorite place for quick-serve Mexican style food?
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