SEATTLE — An iconic Seattle restaurant is expected to close its doors Monday.
The Taco Time location on North 45th Street in the Wallingford neighborhood has been in business for 50 years. It’s one of the oldest restaurants in the Taco Time chain.
Lyla Hanna, the franchise’s owner, said the largest contributing factor to the closure was that business volumes did not return after the COVID-19 pandemic.
Hanna’s grandfather, the store’s owner, died in September. Hanna said the Wallingford location was the last of his restaurants.
“There’s something sweet in knowing it will die with him,” Hanna said.
The closure was made public last week after a sign was posted outside the restaurant telling customers it would be shutting its doors. Since the announcement, Hanna said the restaurant “has been busy as ever” with customers clambering to get one last taco or burrito from the glass-walled restaurant.
Frank Tonkin Sr. opened the first Taco Time Northwest location in White Center in 1962. Over the last 60 years, Taco Time has grown to 77 restaurants throughout western Washington.
Taco Time Northwest is not affiliated with the Kahala Corporation, which operates Taco Time outside of western Washington.
For fans of the fast-casual Mexican cuisine, the next closest Taco Time locations are in Ballard (2853 NW Market St.) and Interbay (1140 Elliott Ave. W.)