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One of those fancier Taco Bells approved for Maverick Square

By adamg on Fri, 12/13/2024 - 12:48pm

The Boston Licensing Board yesterday approved a Taco Bell Cantina, with updated stylings and even some vegetarian options, for 10 Maverick Sq. in East Boston.

The more upscale Mexican-like take-out place will have ten seats and be open for sit-down chowing until midnight - when the doors will shut, although pickup and delivery service will then continue until 2 a.m.

Board Chairwoman Kathleen Joyce said its space, across from the Maverick Blue Line stop, "is a good location" for a take-out place. She added she didn't think it would prove a threat to other Mexican restaurants in the area that offer more of a sit-down dining experience.

The outlet will be the latest by Cantina Hospitality, a Connecticut-based franchisee that has led the resurgence of Taco Bells in Boston, which at one point was down to one last traditional Taco Bell in West Roxbury, but which, along with Brookline, now has several Taco Bell Cantinas, including in Allston and South Boston.

Neighborhoods: 
East Boston
Topics: 
Dining
Free tagging: 
Maverick Square
Taco Bell
Boston Licensing Board


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Comments

By anon on Fri, 12/13/2024 - 12:58pm.

Pizza Hut in the North End?

By Transphobia Watch on Fri, 12/13/2024 - 1:02pm.

Everything at Taco Bell except the actual meat is vegetarian, and nearly everything except the actual dairy products are vegan. If you just leave the cheese off of several of their burritos, they're vegan. They've been winning awards from the vegetarian societies since the '90s for their practices. If you use their app, there's a section of meat items with the meat replaced by beans so you don't even have to customize them. (They really should bring back the seven-layer burrito as a default item rather than requiring people to create it on the app though!)

By DEMO on Fri, 12/13/2024 - 1:07pm.

Taco Bell in Maverick = Long John Silvers on the Seaport.

But hey, average it out, I guess.

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By anon on Fri, 12/13/2024 - 1:40pm.

Why would it be their job to make that sort of judgement?

By Michael on Fri, 12/13/2024 - 1:43pm.

It's funny when a Papa Johns was going into chairwoman Kathleen Joyce neighborhood she was in overwhelming opposition, but she thinks this is okay?

Another big building developer in East Boston just bullying their way into getting the rent they want because no one else but a chain can afford those rent prices.

City hall and 1010 mass ave need a major overhaul. Clearly someone is lining their pockets...

By Brennus Cunnliffe on Fri, 12/13/2024 - 1:54pm.

It is quite evident that a lot residents disapproved this restaurant ,yet city grants the use of this location. How about before approving these buildings have them lock in a commercial space business.
Just look at all the vacant space amongst everywhere.in these boxes rentals! Revenue for City, also wonder how much the owner greases those taco wheels.. Pathetic City reps VOTE THEM OUT.... What's next Gentrification gone backwards ,will they accept EBT cards?wtf

By Muerl on Fri, 12/13/2024 - 2:15pm.

I mean sure, but the board isn't there to determine if something is a good business idea.

By Lee on Fri, 12/13/2024 - 2:15pm.

…. and take out places in Maverick. Taco Bell barging in is bad news for local economy and local customers as well.
Like what Dunkin’s did to independent donut shops that actually sold edible donuts and affordable coffee.

By cybah on Fri, 12/13/2024 - 3:48pm.

I said this before when this came up before but..

You don't go to McDonald's because you want a well prepared quality hamburger, you go to McDonald's because its McDonald's.

Same with Taco Bell. You aren't going Taco Bell because you want quality tex-mex (and calling taco bell tex-mex is almost a stretch), you are going to Taco Bell because it's Taco Bell.

I don't think this will have much effect on local businesses. The people that want quality texmex will still go to the quality places. And the people that want Taco Bell, will come for Taco Bell.

In fact, it might attract *new* customers for some businesses since the people who are coming for Taco Bell might not go to Maverick Square otherwise and stop along the way at another business for something else. Myself being one of those people. I can get quality texmex near my house, but I cannot get taco bell (unless I want it delivered). I might venture to Maverick to go there, and stop in a few stores at Liberty Plaza before hand along the way. I rarely go to maverick, except for the T. I know there are others like me who would do the same too.

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By anon on Fri, 12/13/2024 - 5:55pm.

There's a Marshalls, a Shaw's, A T Mobile Store, a Kappy's Liquors, a CVS, a Pollo Campero, a McDonalds and an Auto Zone. It couldn't be more uninspiring, and hardly something you can't get anyplace else. And we already know you won't be going to the Pollo Campero or McDonalds because you will be eating at Taco Bell in Maverick Square.

By Upton Price on Fri, 12/13/2024 - 4:32pm.

That's not how it works.

The nextdoor Burger King doesn't take away business from The Quiet Few, the Subway doesn't take away business from Meridian Market, the Wing Stop doesn't take away business from Beto's.

You go to Taco Bell because you want Taco Bell, not because you want Mexican food. Restaurants don't compete in the way stores do. The products are VERY different, so the customers are different.

Dunkin also didn't kill independent donut stores. Dunkin does compete against McDonald's for coffee though.

By Friartuck on Fri, 12/13/2024 - 5:06pm.

Pollo Campero is the answer ...

By anon on Fri, 12/13/2024 - 5:30pm.

Boooooooooooooo

By anon on Fri, 12/13/2024 - 5:32pm.

There is a dunkin and a Burger King and now a Taco Bell. The three horsemen of suburbanization . I hate to say it but this place will just serve as another spot the riff raft can loiter

By Lee on Fri, 12/13/2024 - 7:26pm.

… in the eyes of some residents and business owners.

“The three horsemen of suburbanization”.
That’s brilliant.
Gentrification continues to seek out and destroy in East Boston.