The Riverside Drive Taco Bell is undergoing a bold makeover after almost 20 years of operation in Danville.
The sixth store opened by Martinsville-based Taco Bell Corp. franchisee Tacoma Inc. closed shop on Jan. 4 to remodel the restaurant to the new “bold choice image” of Taco Bell, President Tim Reith of Tacoma Inc. said. The remodel was necessary to renew a 20-year franchise agreement.
“We believe in Danville and we’re willing to commit for another 20 years,” Reith said.
The Riverside Drive Taco Bell opened on Oct. 22, 1990, with lines of people waiting to get in and traffic backed up on Riverside Drive. The opening week’s sales broke national sales records for Taco Bell.
Danville business continued well through the years and Reith attributes that to offering alternatives to hamburgers with Mexican fare.
Now, Tacoma is investing several hundred thousand dollars to enhance the restaurant for a brighter, fresh customer service experience, he said. The store will be refurbished inside and out, including seating, floors and restrooms.
The company hired Danville and Southwest Virginia companies to do the work. An Alabama company will do the façade. Coordinator Ed Pace, of Tacoma Inc., heads up the remodel — which means work for about 25 construction workers.
“We use a lot of local industry to keep the money in the economy of Danville,” he added.
No employees lost their jobs because of the remodel as employees transitioned temporarily to other stores, Reith added. Tacoma Inc., founded by Chairman Will Pannill in 1987, now operates 20 Taco Bell restaurants.
General Manager Nancy Willard and District Manager Kelly Crowder, both of Axton, look forward to the work being finished by mid- to late February.
Look for the Riverside Drive store’s grand reopening in early March.
Meanwhile, Tacoma’s Taco Bell at 1208 Piney Forest Road can serve the “Fresco drive-thru diet” items or crunchy tacos, bean burritos, gorditas and chalupas.
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