Taco Bell recently announced that it was going to start serving wine, beer and mixed alcohol freezes at one of their new locations to open in Chicago later this summer.
Yum Brands Inc., the owner of this chain, say that the restaurant is going to get a new design as well to test urban markets. They say that the layout has been launched in Japan, the United Kingdom and South Korea already.
The new design will have a row of lime-green stools placed along a bar which peers into the open kitchen. It will also have an exposed brick wall on one flank. This location is also going to highlight the work of local artists to get a neighborhood feel.
This is the newest sign that Taco Bell is trying hard to get rid of its tag as a fast food brand. Wendy’s is also trying to prove itself as a step above traditional fast food and has been trying to sell remodeled restaurants with more inviting features and mixed seating.
This push to try and get a new image also extends to its food. It was only last month that Taco Bell announced that it was going to drop all artificial colors and flavors from its menu completely by the end of 2015. This would not extend to co-branded products such as Doritos Locos tacos.
Taco Bell also says that its franchisee located in Wicker Park, Chicago is going to ensure alcohol is responsibly served at this new location and alcohol sales will also be monitored by a 3rd party secret shopper service. Eater, a website, had reported earlier that the management at Taco Bell in Wicker Park has applied for a liquor license.
Ashley Sioson, a representative of Taco Bell declined to provide any further information on the upcoming alcohol options. She also said that they were not planning on introducing alcohol to the menu of any of their other locations around the United States.
