Why Taco Joint in Dallas is about to have its biggest year yet
“The first few years were pretty humble,” says Corey McCauley, co-founder of Taco Joint. “But somehow we noticed that we had something.”
He talks about the neighborhood chatter around the very first taco joint on Peak Street in Old East Dallas. When it opened in August 2008, it served tacos, burritos, and a brilliant starter called Disaster, which mixes queso, ground beef, guacamole, and pico de gallo. It’s one of the best hangover remedies in town.
This casual Tex-Mex place started “on a tight budget and a prayer,” says McCauley. But after the Peak Street restaurant became more successful, he and business partner Jeffrey Kowitz opened a second taco joint in Lakewood three years later. Then Richardson, which was later closed. Nearest Preston Center, near the Park Cities. Then Lake Highlands.
And after a slow but steady growth plan spanning nearly 11 years with another partner, Jarrett Davies, Taco Joint is poised to open three new restaurants in 2021 alone. In August or September they open in Forest and Inwood, in a part of the former Picasso’s Pizza. At around the same time, they will open in Plano, near the former Collin Creek Mall. And by the end of the year, they hope to open a new restaurant on Preston and Belt Line Road near a Chick-fil-A.
Taco Joint’s accelerating growth is being driven by David Catalano, a new partner in the business who previously served as chief operating officer of Fuzzy’s Taco Shop and Hard Rock Cafe. He also served as the former vice president of operations for TGI Friday’s and was the first franchisee for Twin Peaks.
Taco Joint business partners David Catalano, left, Jeffrey Kowitz and Corey McCauley stand ready to grow the business more strongly than ever in 2021.(Ben Torres / special article)
Catalano believes Taco Joint could grow to around 12 restaurants in two years. First of all, they stay close to their home.
“We want to grow steadily here in D-FW, where we still drive to every store, take care of it, get a feel for the neighborhood,” says McCauley. In the end, that’s what made Taco Joint work: They chose neighborhoods where the residents wanted to bring their families several times a month or more.
“We always tried to be like an applause to the Tex-Mex industry,” says McCauley.
Brisket tacos are one of Taco Joint’s most popular dishes.(Ben Torres / special article)
Catalano joined the team in January 2020, a few months before the coronavirus pandemic hit and every restaurant in Dallas-Fort Worth was forced to rethink its strategies. During the pandemic, the team at Taco Joint decided not to slow down their growth plans. But it gave the co-founders time to think about their company.
“It taught us to get back to basics,” says McCauley. “It was pretty tough, but we survived the storm. And it made us give in to technology and use third-party delivery services. “
(Due to the pandemic, all four restaurants can now order online with pickup or delivery.)
Once Taco Joint begins its growth spurt in D-FW in 2021, Catalano and the co-founders will consider looking for new restaurant locations outside of the region.
“I think we all agree it could go anywhere,” says Catalano.
Taco Joints are expected to open in Forest and Inwood in Dallas, on Alma Drive and Plano Parkway in Plano, and Preston and Belt Line Streets in Far North Dallas, both in 2021. The company now has four restaurants open: 911 N. Peak St., Dallas; 6112 Luther Lane, Dallas; 6434 E. Mockingbird Lane, Dallas; and 9850 Walnut Hill Lane, Dallas.
For more food news, follow Sarah Blaskovich on Twitter @sblaskovich.
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