New-to-market taco chain heads to Uptown

Uptown will soon have a new taco joint.

R Tacos has picked Uptown for the chain's first Albuquerque location.

The Buffalo Wild Wings-owned chain is headed to Coronado Center, where it will take up about 2,000 square feet, says Thalia Toha, an adviser for NAI Maestas & Ward, who represents the tenant.

Dallas-based R Tacos is expected to open by the end of the summer, said Toha. The chain is finalizing construction decisions.

The addition of R Tacos continues Coronado Center's makeover. In the past year, the mall has introduced new shops like The Container Store, dessert spot Roll Avenue, Blaze Pizza and the upcoming Escape the Room.

New Mexico doesn't yet have any R Taco restaurants, but by 2021, the state is expected to have four locations. JJ&D Enterprises signed an initial agreement with the fast-casual taco company to bring four locations to Albuquerque and Las Cruces over a span of four years, Business First reported in October.

Co-founder Rusty Fenton launched the taco joint in Dallas in 2010, calling it Rusty Taco, according to Dallas Business Journal.

In February, Arby's Restaurant Group Inc. acquired Buffalo Wild Wings and created a new company, Inspire Brands, that would operate both restaurant chains, as well as offshoots. BWW acquired R Taco in 2014. The chain, which includes more than 26 units, rebranded from Rusty Taco in 2015, reports Dallas Business Journal.

Buffalo Wild Wings posted $494.2 million in revenue in the fourth quarter of 2017, reports CNBC.