August 3, 2007

TACO BUENO IN MIDST OF AGGRESSIVE EXPANSION PROGRAM

AUSTIN—Eat Drink LLC, a franchisee for Taco Bueno, a fast casual restaurant founded in Abilene in 1967, is in the midst of an aggressive expansion in the Austin area and other markets. The franchisee plans to add 48 new locations over the next five to six years in the following Texas markets: the Austin metro area, San Antonio metro area, New Braunfels, San Marcos, Corpus Christi, in The Valley -- Harlingen, Brownsville, McAllen, Mission and Weslaco --, San Angelo, Midland, Odessa, Victoria, Palestine, El Paso, Corsicana, Ennis and Gun Barrel City, as well as Las Cruces, New Mexico.

The Weitzman Group is representing Taco Bueno /  Eat Drink LLC on the expansion; Andrew Scroggie, Weitzman vice president, is responsible for negotiations for the new locations.

“We are excited about the future growth of EATDRINK LLC with the support of our partners at Taco Bueno corporate,” said Bill Spae, managing partner of EatDrink. “The markets we are developing are some of the premier markets in Texas and provide fertile ground for our made-to-order fresh product and outstanding service.”

 Each Taco Bueno location is approximately 2,600 to 2,800 square feet with a drive thru. The freestanding restaurants typically require one acre of land.

A significant number of the restaurants will be in the Austin area. To date, Taco Bueno has signed for five area locations.

These are

·         MoPac and Slaughter, which is set to open in the fourth quarter of 2007. 
         The restaurant is in an area of new retail and restaurant growth;

·        FM 1460 and SH-79 in Round Rock, which is set to open in the fourth 
          quarter of 2007. This site will be in the development anchored by the 
          trade area’s first H-E-B Plus!;

·        Sunrise and University in Round Rock, which is near the new Chelsea
          Premium Outlets and IKEA, which is set to open in 2008. The location is 
          also across the street from the Scott & White Hospital and adjacent to a 
          new CVS;

·        Wonder World Drive and I-35 in San  Marcos, which opened during the 
          first half of 2007. The restaurant is part of Red Oak Village, anchored by 
          Sam’s Wholesale Club, Bed Bath & Beyond and others;

·        SH-46 and I-35 in New Braunfels, which is set to open in the fourth quarter 
          of 2007.  The restaurant is part of the development anchored by Home 
          Depot and Circuit City.

 The first restaurant to open under the new program was in San Antonio, the second location was in San Marcos, and the third location opened in Corpus Christi in July. One more is planned for the Corpus Christi market.

Taco Bueno is known for the freshness of its food. For example, each restaurant makes its own tortilla chips and guacamole on site.

“We’ll see five locations open in 2007, with another eight or so locations in 2008 and between 10 to 12 locations in 2009,” Scroggie said

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