Liquor-license application reveals Rusty Taco’s plans for 3rd Dayton-area location

Franchise owners targeting former El Toro space across from the Dayton Mall

Eighteen months ago, Rusty Taco and Dayton-based franchisee group ThreeWitt Enterprises Inc. jointly announced they had signed a 13-unit agreement to greatly expand the Dallas, Texas-based taco chain's footprint in the Dayton, Columbus and Cincinnati area.

And those plans appear to be moving forward: state records suggest that Rusty Taco's local franchisees are eyeing their third Dayton-area restaurant in what is now an El Toro Mexican Bar & Grill at 2335 Miamisburg-Centerville Road across from the Dayton Mall in Miami Twp.

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Ohio Division of Liquor Control online records show that a franchisee for Rusty Taco, which was known as “R Taco” until reverting to its original name last year, applied yesterday, March 21, for multiple liquor licenses at the El Toro location.

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El Toro previously has confirmed it will close that location when its new, larger restaurant opens at the former TGI Fridays restaurant at 2022 Miamisburg-Centerville Road in the South Towne Center.

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Liquor-license applications sometimes occur early in the exploratory process of identifying a location for a new restaurant, and not every liquor-license application results in a restaurant opening.

A spokesman for the Rusty Taco franchisee said late this morning that the franchise team is exploring the possibility of opening a restaurant in the El Toro space, but no deal has been finalized.

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Rusty Taco, then known as R Taco, launched its first Dayton-area restaurant in March 2017 on Brown Street near the University of Dayton, and followed with its second location across from the Mall at Fairfield Commons in Beavercreek in November 2018.

  

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