Buffalo Wild Wings-owned R Taco Sets Growth Plan

Buffalo Wild Wings today announced plans to grow the R Taco fast-casual restaurant chain, which the company invested in as part of its strategy to partner with emerging restaurant concepts that have the potential for significant growth. Currently R Taco has 11 company-owned and franchised locations serving street-style tacos in Dallas, Denver and Minneapolis/St. Paul, with plans to open in Omaha, Neb. next month.

Feb 10, 2016 - 13:13

Buffalo Wild Wings today announced plans to grow the R Taco fast-casual restaurant chain, which the company invested in as part of its strategy to partner with emerging restaurant concepts that have the potential for significant growth. Currently R Taco has 11 company-owned and franchised locations serving street-style tacos in Dallas, Denver and Minneapolis/St. Paul, with plans to open in Omaha, Neb. next month.

Buffalo Wild Wings is seeking interested and qualified franchisees and business partners with multi-restaurant experience to expand R Taco to markets including Austin, Houston and San Antonio, Texas; Oklahoma City and Tulsa, Okla., St. Louis, Mo.; and Des Moines, Iowa. R Taco plans to expand its corporate-owned restaurant locations as well.

“As we’ve spent time learning the R Taco business, we see an opportunity to grow the company with partners who share our enthusiasm for the brand and want to bring this fresh and fun restaurant to more people in new markets,” said Tom Berzinski, Vice President, Managing Director, R Taco.

Launched in Dallas in 2010 as Rusty Taco and named for co-founder Rusty Fenton, the company shortened its name last year to R Taco to provide broader appeal as the concept expands beyond its Dallas roots. “As founder Rusty Fenton always said, ‘Tacos are the most important meal of the day,’ and we believe providing guests with the freshest ingredients and authentic tasting street-style tacos at an affordable price in a friendly and fun atmosphere is a concept that works well regardless of geography,” said Steve Dunn, CEO, R Taco.

A typical R Taco location is 1,800 to 2,500 square feet, located in an existing free-standing endcap or urban storefronts, with an exclusive patio and adequate parking. Restaurants have a welcoming atmosphere with quirky décor, bold colors, an open ceiling and open kitchen, with natural and industrial lighting. Service is provided for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Buffalo Wild Wings also has a minority investment in Los Angeles-based PizzaRev, a growing fast-casual pizza chain delivering an interactive dining experience where guests craft their own pizzas, choosing from a wide variety of premium-quality ingredients, in any amount, for one price. The investments in PizzaRev and R Taco are part of a strategy to partner with emerging restaurant concepts that have the potential for significant growth, appeal to Guests throughout the country and have a highly engaged management team with a passion to grow the business.