Taco Bell

Glen Bell started serving tacos at Taco Tia, a taco stand, after realizing the potential of tacos while running a restaurant that sold hamburgers and hot dogs.

Before venturing into tacos, Glen Bell owned and operated a hamburger stand called Bell's Hamburgers in 1948 on the border of San Bernardino and Colton in California.

After being inspired by the success of Mitla Cafe's hard-shelled tacos, Glen Bell opened a new stand in 1951 to serve similar Mexican-inspired food items.

In 1954, Glen Bell opened his first taco stand, Taco Tia, where customers could get a taco for just 19 cents, laying the foundation for his future success with Taco Bell.

In 1962, Glen Bell opened the very first Taco Bell in Downey, California, marking the beginning of the popular fast-food chain.

Only 2 years after the opening of the first Taco Bell location, the franchise had its first franchisee, Kermit Becky, who opened a location in Torrance, California.

Former police officer Kermit Bekke purchased the first Taco Bell franchise in 1964 and opened its location at 1654 W Carson Street in Torrance, California on May 28, 1965.

Within 3 years of opening their first franchise location, Taco Bell reached a milestone by opening its 100th restaurant in Anaheim, California, showcasing rapid growth.

The 270th Taco Bell store, store #258, opened at 2050 East Main Street in Springfield, Ohio on September 20, 1968, marking the first location east of the Mississippi River.

In 1970, Taco Bell went public with 325 restaurants, marking a significant milestone in the company's history.

More than 40 years ago in 1976, Taco Bell's corporate office settled into Irvine at 17901 Von Karman Avenue, after previously being located at different addresses.

In 1978, PepsiCo purchased Taco Bell from Glen Bell, leading to significant changes and expansions in the company.

Taco Bell first opened in Australia in September 1981 but was ordered to change its name after a legal dispute with a local restaurant called 'Taco Bell's Casa'.

In 1986, Taco Bell expanded overseas by opening a restaurant in London, England, marking a significant milestone in the company's global presence.

In 1988, Taco Bell introduced the Mexican Pizza, a menu item that would become iconic for the chain and a favorite among customers.

Taco Bell pioneers the concept of linking fast-food marketing promotions with major movie blockbusters. Its 'Batman' promotion is a huge success, placing Taco Bell in the spotlight.

In 1991, Taco Bell opened the first Taco Bell Express in San Francisco, introducing a new concept of operating primarily inside convenience stores, truck stops, shopping malls, and airports.

In 1992, Johnny Cash appeared in a television commercial promoting Taco Bell's value menu.

In 1997, Taco Bell introduced its iconic mascot, Gidget the Chihuahua, along with the famous catchphrase 'Yo Quiero Taco Bell', which became a cultural phenomenon.

In March 2001, Taco Bell ran a promotion tied to the re-entry of the Mir space station. They placed a target in the Pacific Ocean, promising free tacos for all Americans if the falling Mir debris hit the target. Fortunately, no collision occurred.

In 2005, Taco Bell introduced the Crunchwrap Supreme, a unique item that combines various ingredients wrapped in a tortilla and grilled. Despite its unconventional creation process, the Crunchwrap Supreme became a popular phenomenon known for its distinctive hexagonal shape.

Taco Bell introduced the Crunchwrap Supreme in 2006, a popular menu item. In 2023, the company test marketed a vegan version in select cities to assess its potential for a national rollout.

In September 2007, Taco Bell returned to Monterrey, projecting an American image with an Americanized menu that included french fries. However, it closed in January 2010 due to low patronage.

The first Taco Bell open to the public in Spain was launched at the Islazul Shopping Mall in Madrid in December 2008.

On July 21, 2009, Gidget, the famous Chihuahua featured in Taco Bell ads during the late 1990s, was euthanized at the age of 15 after suffering a stroke.

Yum! Brands opened the first new Taco Bell store in the UK at the Lakeside Shopping Centre in Essex on June 28, 2010, as part of its European expansion.

Another Taco Bell store was launched in Basildon, Essex, UK on November 29, 2010, following the brand's reentry into the UK market.

The first Taco Bell in Greece opened in Athens at the newly constructed Athens Metro Mall. However, it closed in August 2012 due to the country's recession.

The third Taco Bell store in the UK opened in the Manchester Arndale Food Court on November 7, 2011, as part of the brand's expansion strategy.

On June 6, 2012, Taco Bell announced the testing of a new 'Cantina Menu' in Kentucky and California restaurants. The upscale menu, created by celebrity chef Lorena Garcia, featured items like Black Beans, Cilantro Rice, Marinated Chicken, and Cilantro Dressing, showcasing a shift towards more gourmet offerings.

Taco Bell launched the Dollar Cravings menu on August 18, 2014, offering thirteen food items priced at one US dollar each. It later evolved into the Cravings Value Menu.

U.S. Taco Co. closed in September 2015 to shift focus to the new Taco Bell Cantina concept, which featured special menu items and served alcohol.

On April 4, 2017, Taco Bell opened its first restaurant in Eindhoven, Netherlands. This marked the entry of Taco Bell into the Dutch market.

Restel announced bringing Taco Bell to Finland in June 2017, with the first restaurant opening in central Helsinki on November 9, 2017, and later expanding to other cities.

Collins Foods announced on September 13, 2017, that Taco Bell would return to the Australian market, with their first store situated in the Brisbane suburb of Annerley in Queensland.

The first Taco Bell store in Romania opened in Bucharest on October 12, 2017. Romania is currently the only country in Eastern Europe with a Taco Bell presence.

Taco Bell officially opened its first New Zealand location on November 12, 2019, in the suburb of New Lynn, Auckland.

On August 13, 2020, Taco Bell updated its menu as part of efforts to streamline processes during the COVID-19 pandemic, discontinuing items like Grilled Steak Soft Taco, 7-Layer Burrito, and Cheesy Fiesta Potatoes.

Taco Bell introduced a digital taco subscription service called the Taco Lover's Pass on January 6, 2022, allowing customers to order one of seven different tacos each day for 30 consecutive days for $10.

Taco Bell announced that the Mexican Pizza will be returning to its menu on May 19, 2022, after being discontinued in November 2020.

Taco Bell IP Holder, LLC retains all rights to the Taco Bell brand and intellectual property. The company ensures that their trademarks and copyrights are protected.