Eyesore or landmark, suburban fast-food haven or punchline for snobbish gourmands, it appears the Mission-style Taco Bell at 3501 Mt. Diablo Blvd in Lafayette is calling it quits on Jan. 1, 2026.
Fans will be happy to know the fabled chain’s local footprint will not be disappearing forever, with plans for a resurrected Taco dispensary somewhere near Rossmoor on the draftsman’s table. Its design has not yet been revealed.
Bell watchers noted that the Lafayette location appeared to have been struggling with low profits exacerbated by their lack of a drive-thru and their client base’s changing tastes, the owner opting not to renew their lease.
Closure of the Lafayette location will mean the loss of jobs for current employees, who may be able to land work at the new location when it opens.
We’re not yet sure what will replace the business when it closes.
That Lafayette location was a crazy place to access. I was there a few times but more times than not I could not get in because of traffic, or parking lot not allowing it.
And I’m sure snobby Lafayette does not like that to be the first thing that many people see when they come off the freeway into town.
What are you talking about ?! Easy access. Easy parking. Just no drive thru for lazy people. 🙄
It was always very convenient after a visit to the library
Too bad; that is one of the last seven original style Taco Bells still remaining.
It’s been open since the late ’60s, too
I had my first spicy bean burrito there as a student at Stanley in 1966. Price? 27 cents! RIP
Say it ain’t so.
Firestone 11R