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May 04, 2005

More on Del Taco in Seattle

An article came out yesterday outlining Del Taco's plans in Seattle.

Del Taco has just two stores in Washington now, one in Vancouver and one in Spokane. The 430-store chain signed its first franchisee here in January, a four-person private ownership group that includes former Little Caesar's franchisee John Richards. The group has a territory that excludes the city of Seattle but otherwise stretches from Bellingham to Tacoma....

Richards said the franchise hopes to have its first store open by the end of the year, and three stores open by the end of 2006. The group plans to build between five and 10 stores in the next five years. The franchise group is working with commercial brokers Leibsohn & Company in areas east and south of Seattle, where Renton, Factoria, Federal Way and Puyallup's South Hill are top priorities.

Redmond, Des Moines and Tacoma are on the group's wish list as well, Richards said. To the north, Bellingham, Burlington and several North Seattle sites are also under consideration. Four sites are currently in negotiation, Richards said.

Del Taco, which offers a mixed menu of Mexican and American cuisine, has site requirements that are a bit different from many fast-food chains. That's because all of the company's units are 24-hour drive-through restaurants, Richards noted, costing in the neighborhood of $1 million per store to open. Neighborhoods with middle incomes and night-shift workers are highly desirable.

In the Puget Sound area, Del Taco will face off against more than 50 Taco Time restaurants and two dozen Taco Bells. Richards is hoping that additional franchisees sign on for territories near his group so that the brand gains a quick market presence throughout the region.

Yummy yummy!

Posted by March at May 4, 2005 01:50 PM

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