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Saved from wrecking ball: Taco Bell to relocate original 1962 Downey food stand to Irvine (CA)
OC Register ^ | 11/17/2015 | Nancy Luna

Posted on 11/17/2015 7:23:24 PM PST by chrisinoc

Taco Bell is saving its first fast-food restaurant from the wrecking ball by relocating the iconic 400-square-foot food stand from Downey to its corporate headquarters in Irvine.

“This is arguably the most important restaurant in our company’s history,” said Taco Bell Chief executive Brian Niccol. “When we heard about the chance of it being demolished, we had to step in. We owe that to our fans; we owe that to Glen Bell.”

(Excerpt) Read more at ocregister.com ...


TOPICS: Food; Local News
KEYWORDS: california; downey; irvine; tacobell
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I remember Glen Bell as our family owned the market a few doors down. Ate there quite a few times.

My father was asked to invest by Glen bell but he declined. What a missed opportunity.

1 posted on 11/17/2015 7:23:24 PM PST by chrisinoc
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To: 5th MEB; AgThorn; al baby; BAW; bboop; BenLurkin; Bob J; Bon of Babble; BunnySlippers; bunster; ...
SoCal Ping!

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Attention Southern Californians



Please ping me with any Southern California related articles. Thank you!

If you want on or off this ping list, please FReepmail me.

2 posted on 11/17/2015 7:32:05 PM PST by EveningStar
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To: chrisinoc

Why destroy history? I take it this was a ‘value of the land it sat on’ deal?


3 posted on 11/17/2015 7:39:05 PM PST by Norm Lenhart (Existential Cage Theory - Embrace it)
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To: chrisinoc

In an ad for Taco Bell that was run on local radio stations in 1967, the narrator told listeners how to remember the name Taco Bell: when you think of bells, think of tacos. Thus, the Liberty Bell becomes the Liberty Taco, and the leftist calypso singer becomes Harry Tacofonte.


4 posted on 11/17/2015 7:44:29 PM PST by Fiji Hill
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To: chrisinoc

I only eat at one when I am on the road. It is good road food.


5 posted on 11/17/2015 7:48:53 PM PST by AppyPappy (If you really want to irritate someone, point out something obvious they are trying hard to ignore.)
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To: chrisinoc

Especially since Taco Bell won the Franchise Wars.


6 posted on 11/17/2015 7:50:24 PM PST by dfwgator
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To: Fiji Hill

Ask not for whom the taco tolls...


7 posted on 11/17/2015 7:53:15 PM PST by null and void (We are AmeriCANs. We CAN learn, and learn from history, if we choose.)
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To: null and void

“Ask me how do I feel, ask me now that we’re cozy and clinging. Well sir, all I can say is if I were a taco I’d be ringing...”


8 posted on 11/17/2015 8:04:42 PM PST by Junk Silver
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To: dfwgator

Love that movie! “Good things from the garden, garden in the valley....”


9 posted on 11/17/2015 8:05:15 PM PST by BigSkyVic
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To: BigSkyVic

“AWAY! BLOW THIS GUY AWAY!”


10 posted on 11/17/2015 8:06:08 PM PST by dfwgator
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To: Fiji Hill
Alfred Notaco.


11 posted on 11/17/2015 8:07:03 PM PST by Larry Lucido
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To: null and void
Paratacoum.


12 posted on 11/17/2015 8:11:21 PM PST by Larry Lucido
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To: dfwgator

“Yumm...what is this?...,,LA rata! I’m eating a rat burger?!


13 posted on 11/17/2015 8:13:34 PM PST by BigSkyVic
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To: BigSkyVic

Demolition Man is one of my favorite movies! Love Taco Bell food when I was in So Cal. We have Taco Johns in MT.


14 posted on 11/17/2015 8:19:27 PM PST by BigSkyVic
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To: Larry Lucido
"Hello! I'd like to order a dozen regular Bells please, with extra hot salsa".


15 posted on 11/17/2015 8:20:10 PM PST by bigbob
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To: Norm Lenhart

“Why destroy history? I take it this was a ‘value of the land it sat on’ deal?”

The building has not been a Taco Bell restaurant for a long time and was closed since 2014. The Downey location is no longer in the greatest of neighborhoods.

In Irvine it won’t be vandalized and will be restored to 1960s condition.


16 posted on 11/17/2015 8:20:25 PM PST by chrisinoc
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To: chrisinoc

Makes sense.


17 posted on 11/17/2015 8:21:30 PM PST by Norm Lenhart (Existential Cage Theory - Embrace it)
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To: chrisinoc

Huell Howser of “California Gold” did a show on this and Del Taco. I think Mr Bell started Del Taco first and sold it then started Taco Bell.


18 posted on 11/17/2015 8:22:57 PM PST by Vic S
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To: EveningStar

I never got that much into Latino food. I thought for years Taco Bell was a Mexican telephone substation.


19 posted on 11/17/2015 8:29:51 PM PST by BerryDingle (I know how to deal with communists, I still wear their scars on my back from Hollywood-Ronald Reagan)
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To: chrisinoc

I like this pic from the Register article.

20 posted on 11/17/2015 8:30:45 PM PST by BookmanTheJanitor
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