There won’t be any churros, chalupas or potato oles, but there will be a whole lot of construction going on at the Creston Taco John’s this fall.
Located at 708 S. Walnut St., the fast-food Tex-Mex restaurant closed Sept. 14 to undergo a series of renovations that will eventually make it “attractive and among the most technologically advanced Taco John’s restaurants in America,” according to restaurant ownership.
Bill Byrne, founder of Taco John’s of Iowa, which currently owns 22 restaurants in the state and has its 23rd store under construction, said when his company acquired the restaurant in November, he had the intent of making upgrades.
Byrne said the restaurant’s new look will include elements of Taco John’s “Signature” T-16 design, which the company rolled out in 2014. Upgrades include an expansion that will extend the front and remodel the front, back, seating and kitchen areas.
“It’ll be a restaurant with considerably more capacity in square footage, number of seats, etc.,” Byrne said. “The kitchen will be substantially enhanced. When I talk about technology, that would include the food preparation process and kitchen.”
Byrne said the restaurant will be entirely closed for approximately six weeks total, depending on weather cooperation, before the kitchen and drive-thru can reopen.
He said he hopes the rest of the restaurant will completely reopen and be “full speed ahead” by the first of next year, although a few smaller upgrades may remain.