The new R Taco — the first in Ohio for a Texas-based chain — is still on schedule to open in mid-March, John Slaughenhaupt, co-founder of the Dayton R Taco, told this news outlet this morning, Feb. 14.
“We love Brown Street and the University of Dayton neighborhood,” Slaughenhaupt — who is co-owner of the Milano’s Pizza, Subs & Taps at 1834 Brown St. in the same retail center as R Taco — told us late last month. “And since we own the building, we decided to look at putting something in the old Qdoba space ourselves.
“As we looked around, we fell in love with the R Taco concept and felt it was a perfect fit for the area. Who doesn’t like tacos and margaritas, right?”
RELATED: Milano’s owner eyeing former Qdoba space on Brown Street
The R Taco franchise restaurant will share the same ownership as Milano’s: Slaughenhaupt, David Fisher and Eric Lundgren. When asked whether he would seek to expand the taco concept and add other Dayton-area locations, Slaughenhaupt said, “Right now we are focused on getting this first one open, and then we will review the rest of the market.”
R Taco will hire around 40 and will seat about 80 inside and an additional 25 on a patio that will be connected to the restaurant via roll-up doors that will open up to the bar, Slaughenhaupt said.
RELATED: Qdoba to shut down Brown Street restaurant after 2 years
Launched in Dallas in 2010 as Rusty Taco and named for co-founder Rusty Fenton, the company shortened its name in 2015 to R Taco as the concept accelerated expansion beyond its Dallas roots.
There currently are 15 R Taco locations — eight company-owned and seven franchised — in four markets: Dallas, Denver, Minneapolis/St. Paul, and Omaha.
About the Author
