Duo looks to open Texas Taco

Source: Brighton Argus
BRIGHTON - Call it Senor B’s.

Mr. B’s are planning to do for Mexican food what they’ve done for ribs at Texas Taco, an “upscale” fast-food Mexican restaurant.

The new eatery is planned for Burkhart Road west of M-59 near the Kensington Valley Factory Shops.

According to Paul Vangamper, co-owner of Mr. B’s Rustic Tavern in Howell and director of operations for Texas Taco, the proposed 2,800-square-foot building will be located on the east side of the existing Sunoco gas station and McDonald’s fast-food complex.

Vangamper and Todd Hess of Mr. B’s are hoping to open Texas Taco by August.

“It’s a quick-service, fast-food, upscale Mexican restaurant with wholesome ingredients like 100 percent beef and real cheese,” Vangamper said.

The Howell Township Planning Commission will review the site plan for the restaurant.

Pending approval, Vangamper and Hess hope to open Texas Taco by late August.

“All we’re presenting to them (planning commission) is a site plan,” Vangamper said. “It’s the first baby step.”

Preliminary approval is likely, according to Carolyn Eaton, the township’s deputy zoning administrator.

“They have met most of the ordinances. They have pretty much met everything that is required. There are minor things they have to correct on their site plan,” Eaton said. According to Vangamper, more than a million cars go down Burkhart Road a year and the area doesn’t have the quick-service type of restaurants it needs. Both factors led to the proposed Howell Township location.

Vangamper said he opened the first Texas Taco in food court of the Great Lakes Crossing Mall located in Auburn Hills.

“We hope to find the same site selection under a service mall (in Howell Township),” he said. “It has the right ingredients for a test market.”

“We hope to franchise and build hundreds of them,” Vangamper said.
Source: Brighton Argus