Taco Bell Serving Alcohol Will Be Coming To Alexandria

ALEXANDRIA, VA—The Alexandria City Council approved a Taco Bell Cantina, which serves twisted freezes, beer and wine and tapas-style menu items, to open at 417 King Street. The approval went through despite some residents concerns, although there was a compromise on outdoor dining hours.

The restaurant will be located at Tavern Square with 52 indoor seats and 20 outdoor seats in a patio facing King Street. Indoor hours will be 7 a.m.-2 a.m., while the restaurant has agreed to limit outdoor dining hours to 11 p.m. The space was formerly occupied by the Pendleton Shop, which closed in fall 2017.

Residents that were opposed raised concerns about the alcohol sales, noise during the late night hours, parking and littering. Last February, plans for another Taco Bell at 4213 Duke Street failed after residents voiced similar complaints.

Cathy Puskar, the attorney representing Taco Bell, said the cantina will bring much-needed cheap, fast casual dining during late night hours.

Council members overall agreed, Washington Business Journal reported. "This is going to be probably one of the only food opportunities for anyone here late at night," said Councilmember John Chapman.

City staff believe noise impacts won't be a problem, as the outdoor seating faces King Street, and there will be no live entertainment. A city analysis also notes that other restaurants open until 2 a.m.—Blackwall Hitch and Union Street Pub—have operated without alcohol-related complaints to the city for several years.

The council approved the restaurant on condition of the restaurant urging customers and employees to use public transportation or off-street parking like public garages.

Taco Bell Cantina is geared toward urban and walkable communities. At least a dozen locations have opened in the U.S., and Taco Bell hopes to open hundreds more in the coming years, according to Thrillist.

Like Old Town Alexandria Patch on Facebook.

CHICAGO, IL - SEPTEMBER 22: A guest drinks wine at a Taco Bell Cantina restaurant on September 22, 2015 in Chicago, Illinois. The restaurant is Taco Bell's first to serve alcohol. Along with the regular fast food menu guest can also order beer, wine, sangria and twisted Freezes which can be mixed with rum, tequila or vodka. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)