TacoTime

{{About|the restaurant chain's operations outside of western Washington|the restaurant chain primarily in western Washington|Taco Time Northwest}}

{{Infobox company

| name = TacoTime

| logo = TacoTime logo.svg

| logo_size =

| image = File:TacoTimeTheDallesOR.jpg

| image_size =

| image_caption = TacoTime in The Dalles, Oregon

| type = Private

| foundation = {{start date and age|1960|1}}
Eugene, Oregon, U.S.

| founder = Ron Fraedrick (1928–2015)

| location = Scottsdale, Arizona, U.S. (2003)

| locations = Over 300 (2010)

| area_served = {{ubl|United States|Canada|Curacao|Kuwait|Netherlands Antilles}}

| key_people = Kevin Gingrich
{{small|(Brand President)}}

| industry = Food

| products = Tacos, burritos, and other Tex-Mex cuisine-related
fast food

| parent = Kahala Brands

| owner = MTY Food Group

| homepage = [http://www.tacotime.com/ tacotime.com]

}}

Taco Time (stylized as TacoTime) is an American fast-food restaurant chain specializing in Mexican-American food. The chain has over 226 locations in the United States and 74 locations in Western Canada.{{cite web | title=Soiled plastic in his taco, then poor customer service | website=Statesman Journal | date=April 26, 2015 | url=http://www.statesmanjournal.com/story/news/in-your-corner/2015/04/26/taco-times-customer-service-leaves-one-disappointed/26384001/ | access-date=November 16, 2017}} It was founded in Eugene, Oregon, in 1960 by Ron Fraedrick.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=1-ZVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=FOEDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5072%2C3823148 |work=Eugene Register-Guard |location=(Oregon) |last=Barker |first=George |title=Taco Time: Original structure moves to Springfield |date=December 14, 1984 |page=1D}}{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=5u5VAAAAIBAJ&sjid=guEDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6733%2C2520508 |work=Eugene Register-Guard |location=(Oregon)|title=Taco Time founder named top retailer |date=August 11, 1987 |page=2B}}{{Cite web|url=https://tacotimefranchise.com/research/tacotime-brand-story/|title=The TacoTime Brand Story {{!}} TacoTime Franchise {{!}} Mexican Restaurant Franchise|language=en|access-date=2020-04-24}}

History

The chain was founded in Eugene by Ron Fraedrick (1928–2015), who opened the first restaurant near his alma mater, the University of Oregon, at 13th Avenue and High Street in January 1960.

In 1962, the first Taco Time franchise opened in White Center, Washington. In the 1970s, the company expanded to 48 restaurants in seven Western states. In 1978, the company franchised its first international restaurant in Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada.

In 1979, Taco Time Northwest became a licensee with the rights to franchise and operate the Taco Time concept independently. Taco Time Northwest's operating region includes western Washington from Longview to the Canada–United States border and the eastern Washington cities of Wenatchee and Moses Lake.

In 1984, food at a location in The Dalles was allegedly poisoned by members of the Rajneesh movement in a bioterror attack.{{cite web|url=http://www.slate.com/blogs/atlas_obscura/2014/01/09/the_largest_bioterror_attack_in_us_history_began_at_taco_time_in_the_dalles.html|title=The Secret's in the Sauce: Bioterror at the Salsa Bar |author=Dylan Thuras|work=Slate.com|date=9 January 2014 }}

Taco Time has since expanded, now holding more than 300 franchises in the United States, Canada, Kuwait, and Netherlands Antilles (Curaçao). During the 1990s, there were also multiple locations in Greece.{{cite book | title=Restaurant Business | publisher=Restaurant Business | issue=v. 95, nos. 15–18 | year=1996 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6rEgAQAAMAAJ | access-date=November 16, 2017 | page=54}}

In 2003, the company was bought by Kahala Brands of Scottsdale, Arizona.

References

{{reflist|refs=

{{cite book | last1=Arden | first1=L. | title=220 Best Franchises to Buy: The Essential Sourcebook for Evaluating the Best Franchise Opportunities | publisher=Crown Publishing Group | year=2010 | isbn=978-0-307-43211-7 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gUlkxjpxnVwC&pg=PT258 | access-date=November 16, 2017 | page=pt258-259}}

{{cite news |last=Radford |first=Dean |date=May 26, 2012 |title=Renton-based Taco Time marks 50th anniversary |url=http://www.rentonreporter.com/news/154246155.html |newspaper=Renton Reporter |accessdate=September 4, 2015}}

{{cite web | last=Baker | first=Mark | title=Man who started Taco Time in Eugene remembered | website=The Register-Guard | date=October 1, 2017 | url=http://projects.registerguard.com/rg/news/local/33140051-75/ron-fraedrick-founder-of-taco-time-dies.html.csp | access-date=November 16, 2017}}

{{cite web | title=This Taco Chain Isn't Really About The Tacos | website=Food & Wine | date=October 26, 2017 | url=http://www.foodandwine.com/travel/restaurants/taco-chain-isnt-really-about-tacos | access-date=November 16, 2017}}

{{cite web | title=3 years after hoax, Bethel will have its tacos | website=KTOO | date=September 3, 2015 | url=https://www.ktoo.org/2015/09/03/3-years-hoax-bethel-will-tacos/ | access-date=November 16, 2017}}

}}