Taco Time

Taco Time is an American fast-food restaurant chain built around Mexican-American food and franchised restaurant operations. Ron Fraedrick founded the business in Eugene, Oregon, in January 1960, opening its first restaurant near the University of Oregon, where he had studied. The concept initially developed as a regional quick-service restaurant brand and expanded through franchising rather than through a single centrally operated store network. The first Taco Time franchise opened in White Center, Washington, in 1962. During the 1970s, the chain grew to 48 restaurants across seven western U.S. states. This expansion established the brand's regional identity in the western United States and provided the foundation for later cross-border development. In 1978, Taco Time franchised its first international restaurant in Lethbridge, Alberta, marking its entry into Canada. A significant structural development followed in 1979, when Taco Time Northwest became a licensee with independent rights to franchise and operate the Taco Time concept. Its territory covers western Washington from Longview to the Canada–United States border, as well as the eastern Washington cities of Wenatchee and Moses Lake. Taco Time Northwest therefore represents a distinct regional operating and franchising organization within the broader Taco Time system. The chain's history also includes a serious food-safety and public-safety incident. In 1984, food at a Taco Time location in The Dalles, Oregon, was allegedly poisoned by members of the Rajneesh movement in what became associated with a bioterror attack. The incident was part of a wider poisoning campaign in Oregon and is the principal major scandal associated with the brand in the available reference material. Taco Time subsequently developed into a multi-region franchise system in the United States and Canada. Reference material describes the chain as having more than 300 franchises across those two countries, while also separately reporting more than 226 U.S. locations and 74 locations in Western Canada. The brand previously operated locations in Kuwait, Greece, and the Netherlands Antilles, including Curaçao, but those international locations appear to have closed. In 2003, Taco Time was acquired by Kahala Brands, a Scottsdale, Arizona-based franchising company. Under Kahala Brands, Taco Time has remained a franchise-oriented restaurant brand serving Mexican-American fast food. The available material does not establish a current corporate headquarters, a current executive roster, or a complete present-day store count, so those details are left unspecified.

Taco Time began in Eugene, Oregon, in January 1960, when Ron Fraedrick opened a restaurant near the University of Oregon at 13th Avenue and High Street. The location was close to Fraedrick's alma mater and served as the starting point for a restaurant concept centered on Mexican-American fast food. Rather than remaining a single local restaurant, Taco Time developed through a franchise model. The first franchise opened in White Center, Washington, in 1962. Expansion accelerated during the 1970s, when Taco Time reached 48 restaurants in seven western U.S. states. The brand's early geographic concentration in the West became an enduring feature of its identity and operating footprint. In 1978, the company crossed the national border for the first time when it franchised a restaurant in Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada. The following year brought an important change in the system's operating structure. Taco Time Northwest became a licensee with the rights to franchise and operate the Taco Time concept independently. Its territory includes western Washington, extending from Longview to the Canadian border, along with Wenatchee and Moses Lake in eastern Washington. This arrangement created a distinct regional organization within the wider Taco Time network. In 1984, a Taco Time restaurant in The Dalles, Oregon, became associated with a major public-health and security incident. Food at the location was allegedly poisoned by members of the Rajneesh movement as part of a bioterror attack. The event is remembered as part of the broader 1984 Oregon bioterror campaign and represents the most significant scandal linked to the brand in the available sources. The incident was an external criminal act rather than a documented change in Taco Time's product strategy or ownership. Taco Time later expanded its franchise presence in the United States and Canada. Available reference material describes more than 300 franchises across the two countries, while also giving a regional breakdown of more than 226 U.S. locations and 74 locations in Western Canada. The chain also previously had restaurants in Kuwait, Greece, and the Netherlands Antilles, including Curaçao; those operations appear to have closed. In 2003, Kahala Brands acquired Taco Time. The acquisition placed the brand within Kahala's portfolio of franchised restaurant concepts and continued Taco Time's development as a franchise-led quick-service business. The sources supplied for this entry do not provide a current executive list, a confirmed current headquarters, detailed menu history, or a definitive current store count. Those points remain open for further verification.

• 2003

  Acquisition by Kahala Brands

  [1]TacoTimeen.wikipedia.org

  Kahala Brands acquired Taco Time.

• 1984

  The Dalles poisoning incident

  [1]TacoTimeen.wikipedia.org

  A Taco Time location in The Dalles was affected by alleged food poisoning carried out by members of the Rajneesh movement.

• 1979

  Taco Time Northwest receives independent operating rights

  [1]TacoTimeen.wikipedia.org

  Taco Time Northwest became a licensee authorized to independently franchise and operate the concept in parts of Washington.

• 1978

  First international franchise opens in Canada

  [1]TacoTimeen.wikipedia.org

  The first international Taco Time restaurant opened in Lethbridge, Alberta.

• 1970

  Regional U.S. expansion

  [1]TacoTimeen.wikipedia.org

  During the 1970s, the chain reached 48 restaurants in seven western states.

• 1962

  First franchise opens in White Center

  [1]TacoTimeen.wikipedia.org

  Taco Time began franchised expansion with a restaurant in White Center, Washington.

• 1960

  First Taco Time restaurant opens in Eugene

  [1]TacoTimeen.wikipedia.org

  Ron Fraedrick opened the first Taco Time restaurant in Eugene, Oregon, in January 1960 near the University of Oregon.

A regional and international franchise restaurant brand focused on accessible Mexican-American fast food, with a particularly established presence in the western United States and Western Canada.

• quick-service restaurant menu · 1960

  Mexican-American fast food

  Taco Time's documented category is Mexican-American fast food. The brand operates restaurants rather than selling a standalone packaged-goods line, and its historical identity is tied to quick-service preparation and franchised restaurant service.

• Mexican-style entrée

  Tacos

  Tacos are part of the menu category implied by the Taco Time name and the chain's specialization in Mexican-American food. The supplied reference material does not document specific recipes, ingredients, or product-generation dates.

• Mexican-style entrée

  Burritos

  Burritos are associated with the chain's Mexican-American quick-service offering. Available sources do not provide a verified account of their introduction or a complete description of the current menu.

• 1984

  The Dalles food-poisoning attack

  Food at a Taco Time restaurant in The Dalles, Oregon, was allegedly poisoned by members of the Rajneesh movement during a wider 1984 bioterror attack in Oregon. The incident is documented as an attack affecting a Taco Time location, not as evidence of a company-directed action.

  Source

Read more

• 2003

  Acquire Taco TimeM&A

  Background

  Taco Time had developed as a franchised Mexican-American fast-food chain operating in the United States and Canada.

  Action taken

  Kahala Brands acquired the Taco Time business.

  Aftermath

  Taco Time continued as a franchise-oriented restaurant brand within Kahala Brands.

  Source

• 1979

  Create an independently operated Taco Time Northwest territoryStrategy

  Background

  Taco Time's franchise system had expanded across the western United States and into Canada, creating a need for regional operating structures.

  Action taken

  Taco Time Northwest became a licensee with independent rights to franchise and operate the concept across specified areas of Washington.

  Aftermath

  The arrangement established a separate regional operating organization covering western Washington and selected eastern Washington cities.

  Source

1. 1TacoTimeen.wikipedia.org