Ahead of the opening of the Chicago location, Borkan agreed to hire a security guard for weekend nights to assuage concerns from some neighbors that his Taco Bell will become a center of drunken shenanigans and underage drinkers.
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The alcohol will be served in different cups than the soda, according to a Taco Bell spokeswoman.
“Taco Bell is dropping the drive-thru, opening its kitchens, and using technology to create a new experience as the brand expands into urban markets”, the company said in a press release.
The experimental eatery will serve beer, wine, sangria and liquor-infused slushie drinks called Twisted Freezes.
The Cantina restaurants, like Chipotle’s roughly 1,900 restaurants, will have open kitchens.
The San Francisco restaurant, located near AT&T Park, features a patio and mobile pick-up window to cater to the quick pace, tech savvy community.
It’s all happening! Taco Bell is joining the likes of Chipotle and will now offer beer or wine with your beloved five-layer burrito. It’s a fun story, at least for people who associate drinking and Taco Bell, but have never been able to do both quite at the same time. The Boozy Bell is soft open now and “officially” opens at 1439 N. Milwaukee Ave. on September 22 at 7 a.m., and the millennials are already streaming through the door.
Taco Bell will sell Pinot Grigio and cabernet sauvignon varietals of Stack Wine, which got on Taco Bell officials’ radar after being featured on the television show Shark Tank.
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“Taco Bell is firing on all cylinders, driven by industry-leading innovation and a solid breakfast platform”, Yum Chief executive Greg Creed said over the summer. Those changes in location, atmosphere, and additions all point to the fast food chain aiming to attract a clientele beyond those looking for late night junk food. The company hasn’t said exactly when it will open. Last year, the company unveiled U.S. Taco Co., a fast-casual eatery with a menu of American-inspired tacos. And Sandland said “several hundred” of them will have the design catered to city streets, with a portion of those likely serving alcohol. They include nachos, quesadillas, chicken tenders and rolled tacos.
