Taco Time Northwest
Encyclopedia
Taco Time Northwest, or simply Taco Time, is a fast-food restaurant with numerous locations in Western Washington.
concept originating in Eugene, Oregon in 1961. At the time, Tonkin was busy running his own two restaurants, Tonkin's Café, a full-service restaurant and bar, and Bif's, a fast food hamburger restaurant, both located in Renton.
Realizing the potential of the Mexican fast food category, Tonkin took a gamble that Tacos and Burritos would someday be considered mainstream fare. He opened his first Taco Time restaurant in 1962 in White Center with the Alki restaurant following soon after in 1963. In 1979 Western Washington became an independent operation with Tonkin incorporating Accord, Inc., as the franchisor for the region.
Today, the company serves as headquarters to 73 restaurants, spanning from Bellingham
to Longview
, and including locations in Eastern Washington (Moses Lake
and East Wenatchee
).
History
The Renton, Washington-based company was founded by Frank Tonkin, Sr. in 1962. Frank Tonkin, Sr.'s interest in the fast food industry was well established when he first learned of the Taco TimeTaco Time
Taco Time is a fast-food restaurant chain specializing in a limited menu of Mexican foods. The chain offers dine-in, take away, and drive through at about 300 locations....
concept originating in Eugene, Oregon in 1961. At the time, Tonkin was busy running his own two restaurants, Tonkin's Café, a full-service restaurant and bar, and Bif's, a fast food hamburger restaurant, both located in Renton.
Realizing the potential of the Mexican fast food category, Tonkin took a gamble that Tacos and Burritos would someday be considered mainstream fare. He opened his first Taco Time restaurant in 1962 in White Center with the Alki restaurant following soon after in 1963. In 1979 Western Washington became an independent operation with Tonkin incorporating Accord, Inc., as the franchisor for the region.
Today, the company serves as headquarters to 73 restaurants, spanning from Bellingham
Bellingham, Washington
Bellingham is the largest city in, and the county seat of, Whatcom County in the U.S. state of Washington. It is the twelfth-largest city in the state. Situated on Bellingham Bay, Bellingham is protected by Lummi Island, Portage Island, and the Lummi Peninsula, and opens onto the Strait of Georgia...
to Longview
Longview, Washington
Longview is a city in Cowlitz County, Washington, United States. It is the principal city of the "Longview, Washington Metropolitan Statistical Area", which encompasses all of Cowlitz County. Longview's population was 36,648 at the time of the 2010 census and is the largest city in Cowlitz County...
, and including locations in Eastern Washington (Moses Lake
Moses Lake, Washington
Moses Lake is a city in Grant County, Washington, United States. The population was 20,366 as of the 2010 census. Moses Lake is the largest city in Grant County.-Background:...
and East Wenatchee
East Wenatchee, Washington
East Wenatchee is a city in Douglas County, Washington, United States along the northern banks of the Columbia River. The population at the 2010 census was 13,190, a 129.1% increase over the 2000 census....
).