Economic times have been hard on Taco Time.
Following a gradual decline in popularity, sales and the building’s degrading condition, the downtown Pullman Taco Time, run by the Happy Day Corporation, shut down its operations Jan. 23.
Happy Day Corp. is responsible for other restaurants throughout the northwest such as A&W, Arby’s, Main Street Grill & Deli, Southway Pizzeria, Tomato Brothers and Zany’s Hollywood Grill.
“This store was a medium-volume store by Taco Time standards,†Happy Day Corp. President Bruce Finch said. “We needed to do a major remodel and felt we would realize better return on our investment leasing it or just selling the property.†Being the sole Taco Time in Pullman, as well as the building’s old age, contributed to Taco Time’s closure.
“It was our only restaurant in Pullman, which made it difficult to oversee,†Finch said. “The store was opened 38 years ago in 1971 – probably one of the oldest single-owner restaurants in town.†Restaurant closures are becoming more common, a result of the nation’s economic woes.