Seattle Company Marks a Milestone in Its North American Expansion With the Opening of Its Palo Alto Location

SEATTLE, June 7 /PRNewswire/ -- Taco Del Mar opened its 200th location in Palo Alto, Calif. The North American independent restaurant chain, known for its "mondo burritos and rippin' tacos," celebrated its latest accomplishment today.

"We were practically taking bets about which location would be number 200; we had about six restaurants opening within a few days of each other, and it was tough to tell which would be the one," said James Schmidt, co-founder and chief executive officer. "This occasion is 14 years in the making, and one that I take great pride in celebrating."

The 200th Taco Del Mar location, franchised by Mike and Suzy Lochan, is located at 365 South California Avenue in downtown Palo Alto.

Based on Schmidt's appreciation for Baja style burritos and fish tacos, he and his brother, John Schmidt, opened the first location on June 8, 1992 on Pier 57 in Seattle's historic waterfront district. Two hundred locations later, the company remains independent, unlike many publicly traded or big burger-owned "Mexi-fresh" restaurant concepts.

David Huether, Taco Del Mar president and chief operating officer, said that Taco Del Mar's recent growth, nearly double its number of restaurants in less than two years, can be attributed to the Master Developer model.

"We've enjoyed success based on using regional Master Developers who are diligent in finding great franchisees; everyone stands behind the food, the brand promise of fulfillment, and the concept," he said. "As we push forward in our North American expansion, we feel confident in our operating model, the customer response, and the quality we consistently deliver."

Taco Del Mar features 24-ounce mondo burritos, tacos, enchiladas, kids meals, salads, vegetarian and vegan offerings. The store decor sets the "Baja" mood with surf-themed murals, thatched palapas, mounted sailfish, long board tabletops and tropical-surf background music.

With 200 Taco Del Mar locations throughout the U.S., Puerto Rico and Canada, find a restaurant near you and learn more about this hot concept at TacoDelMar.com.

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