Taco Bus to Open Third Location

The Seminole Heights restaurant scene’s most famous son will soon have another sibling. A third location is scheduled to open in November, at 505 N. Franklin St. in downtown Tampa.

Taco Bus marketing director Aviva Bowman said the new restaurant will have booth and counter seating for at least 50 inside and eight outside. The menu will be largely the same as the downtown St. Petersburg and Seminole Heights Taco Bus locations. But Bowman said upon opening a few new items will be added to the traditional and new wave Mexican lineup.

The Franklin street restaurant will also feature a walk-up window, plus catering services.

“We’re working with an architect, engineer and a metal worker,” Bowman said, in order to conform with the city’s central business district guidelines, yet convey Taco Bus’ iconic theme. Large photographic posters and flat screen TVs will highlight the interior décor, but Bowman declined to give further details.

The original Taco Bus was opened at 913 E. Hillsborough Ave. in 2002 by husband and wife team Roberto and Monica Morfin. In 2007, Rene Valenzuela bought the business. He opened the downtown St. Petersburg location, at 2324 Central Ave., in February. In March, a yet-to-air episode of Food Network’s Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives was taped at the Seminole Heights Taco Bus.

Bowman said a new Web site, taco-bus.com, should be up by September. You can also go to facebook.com/tacobus, or e-mail catering inquiries to info@taco-bus.com.