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When McDonald's decided to completely redesign its restaurants, our childhoods slowly crumbled to pieces. Gone are the days of bright, clownish colors, formica tables, and wood veneer. And now Taco Bell is following suit, ushering in a new line of Tex-Mex spots that are about to look totally different. But first, a moment of silence for the original (albeit kitschy) pinkish-red and purple look:
In a slow roll out over the next six years, Taco Bell Corp. will unveil four different designs that are more minimal and modern—with lots of reclaimed wood and other trendy accents like exposed brick and Edison bulbs. The new looks will debut this summer in Orange County, CA, where the company will open the first of its forthcoming 2,000 new restaurants slated to turn-key by 2022.
What's more, Taco Bell will be expanding on its boozy cantina concept—no doubt inspired by the success of its liquor-serving location in Chicago. So cheers to that!
"From the open kitchen that showcases our freshly prepared foods to the community tables designed for friends to hang out, each of these formats fosters a modern, unique experience," Marisa Thalberg, Chief Marketing Officer at Taco Bell Corp., said in a press release.
Here's a closer look at each of the themes you can expect from Taco Bell in the not-so-distant future:
Heritage
According to Taco Bell, this design is a "modern interpretation of Taco Bell's original Mission Revival style, characterized by warm white walls with classic materials in the tile and heavy timbers."
Modern Explorer
Via press release, the company explained that this rustic-modern style is a "refined version of the brand's Cantina Explorer restaurants" and was "inspired by the farms that make our food, this style reinforces Taco Bell's commitment to the best ingredients, authenticity and transparency of materials and dining preparation."
California Sol
Inspired by Taco Bell's California roots and the California lifestyle, this design blurs the lines between indoor and outdoor. The company noted that "it's a celebration of dining al fresco and embraces a laid-back, beachy feel both inside and out."
Urban Edge
Probably the most different look of the bunch, this design—according to the brand—represents "an eclectic mix of international and street style done the Taco Bell way." Whatever that means. Though the chain also wrote that "it's a style inspired by timeless design married with cutting-edge elements of the urban environment," which is equally as vague and virtually nondescript.
But Deborah Brand, VP of Development and Design at Taco Bell Corp., insists that these new looks are a statement of individuality for the communities each location resides in. "It's no longer one size fits all," she said in a press release. "Consumers are looking for a localized, customized and personalized experiences that reflect the diversity of their communities – the flexibility in bringing these four designs to life gives us just that."
In our opinion, the refresh is falling in line with the brand's long-standing play at the millennial crowd, as evidenced on its Instagram and Twitter feeds. So you go, Glen Coco.
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