In 1962, a California visionary named Glen Bell made the decision to sell his four El Taco restaurants to his partner so he could open his own Mexican joint and fulfill his destiny of becoming a fast food god. It was in the city of Downey, CA that Bell would open the very first Taco Bell restaurant at 7112 Firestone Blvd., and by 1967 there were 100 restaurants thriving throughout the state, and Bell was on his way to becoming a very wealthy man, responsible for the sale of delicious and cheap faux-Mexican fare across the globe. Alas, almost 53 years after the Downey location opened its doors, not all is well with that original store.
According to the Downey Patriot, the original Taco Bell restaurant has long since closed its doors, not only for the chain that asks us to think outside the bun, but to any local business in general. And now, this establishment – nay, cathedral! – is in danger of being torn down. Fortunately, the Downey Conservancy is trying desperately to save this manmade monument to mild sauce.
“The organization recognizes that the building’s current location may not be the best for its future and, as such, is also looking at opportunities to relocate the former Taco Bell to another site within the city,” the Conservancy said. “With the current interest in adding additional first class hotel rooms within the city, for example, consideration could be given to using the historic building as a tourism or business-to-business information center.
“The National Trust for Historic Preservation has an ongoing program called ‘This Place Matters.’ Those involved in the preservation of historic sites know that once an important building is lost, it’s gone forever. This community has shown, in cases such as Harvey’s (now, Bob’s Big Boy) Broiler and the oldest operating Mc Donald’s, that these places matter. The Downey Conservancy hopes that, in the case of the original Taco Bell building, once again, “this place matters.” (Via the Downey Patriot)
I know what you’re thinking – why the hell is this place closed down and fenced off when it should be owned and maintained by Taco Bell as a shrine for taco-loving fools like myself to make annual pilgrimages? Better yet, why hasn’t Taco Bell purchased the property, renovated it without risking the vintage charm and historic value, and turned it into a one-of-a-kind gourmet restaurant with the most authentic Mexican food on the face of the planet? An excellent question, if I say so myself, but there is good news to be shared…
@DowneyPatriot Not if we can help it. #SaveTacoBell pic.twitter.com/CHgcSOQie1
— Taco Bell (@tacobell) January 14, 2015
Obviously, as the world’s biggest Taco Bell fan, I can’t help but appreciate the chain’s willingness to jump on the cause, but still… a social media campaign isn’t going to fix this. PepsiCo needs to step up and do the right thing – the only thing – by buying this place and restoring it for all the world to appreciate. And then they need to bring back the Volcano Taco, because it’s been too long already and I’m dying without it.