Taco two-step: Mexican fast food spot on busy Columbia road is changing brands
Out with the Del, in with the Bell.
The Del Taco Mexican fast food joint at 145 Harbison Blvd. recently closed for good, but residents soon will be able to get their taco fix at that location. That’s because Taco Bell, the national leader in fast food Mexican fare, is going to set up shop in the same spot.
A sign out front of the former Del Taco spot indicates that a Taco Bell is coming soon. Construction work was actively underway when a reporter briefly stopped by the site on Monday. The Taco Bell “coming soon” sign also advises those who wish to apply for a job at the coming restaurant to text “BELL” to 97211.
The Del Taco operated at 145 Harbison Blvd. for about six years. The Harbison shop was the only Del Taco location in the Midlands.
Taco Bell, meanwhile, continues to expand and make moves in the Columbia and Lexington area. There are already more than a dozen locations in the Midlands. A Taco Bell store was announced for Blythewood earlier this year, and there is a new Taco Bell under construction in the 1000 block of South Lake Drive in Lexington. That’s just south of Interstate 20 and about 2.5 miles south of downtown Lexington.
The coming Harbison swap from Del Taco to Taco Bell was first reported by The Post and Courier.
The new Taco Bell on Harbison will be arriving in a bustling section of the Midlands. There’s a Target-anchored shopping center across the street, and attractions such as the Columbiana Centre mall and the Columbiana Grande movie theater are just up the road. State traffic count data indicates 25,000 cars per day go down that section of Harbison.
Meanwhile, a new fast food taco player is looking to make a mark in the Columbia area. Taco John’s, which has 400 restaurants in 21 states, recently told The State it is planning to open several locations in the Midlands in the next few years.
