Taco Bus' Third Location Slated for Jan. 25

The construction delays that often accompany a new restaurant opening seem to be mostly in the Taco Bus' rearview mirror.

Seminole Heights' most famous eatery has scheduled the opening of its third location for Jan. 25, 9 a.m., downtown at 505 N. Franklin St. Original opening dates in November and earlier this month had to be pushed back.

The original location's same menu, dominated by low-cost Mexican street food, will be featured at the Franklin Street store. Taco Bus marketing director Aviva Bowman said there will be booth and counter seating for 50 inside, plus seating for another 10 outside. Four HDTVs and a take-out window with a dedicated food prep line will offer contrasts to the makeshift charms of the Seminole Heights store, where a converted school bus still serves as the kitchen.

Photographic posters will figure in the decor, but as to their content, Bowman would only say, "We're keeping that a secret."

Taco Bus began life as El Taconazo, which opened at 913 E. Hillsborough Ave. in 2002 by husband and wife team Roberto and Monica Morfin. In 2007, Rene Valenzuela bought the business, re-named it Taco Bus, and made a host of other changes to the menu and building. He opened the downtown St. Petersburg Taco Bus, at 2324 Central Ave., in Feb. 2011. In March 2011, an episode of Food Network’s "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives" was taped at the Seminole Heights Taco Bus. It aired Oct. 31, 2011.