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
“We’re not yet sure what will replace the business when it closes.”
The Trump presidential library? You know, NO BOOKS, just trophies, executive proclamations, ceremonial Saudi swords, imagined maps, and so forth. As gold and beautiful as a spicy bean burrito.
This is a dark day for Lafayette and therefore, the world.
An International Day of Mourning has been scheduled…
Worked there in the 70’s…my first job
Any memorable stories?
A Lafayette native, I got Mark McGwire’s signature there in 89 or 90, at about 11:00 at night. My daughters love to go there after school now. This news makes me sad.
We thought his nickname was “Big Mac,” but at least we now know how he got the strength to hit all those home runs!
This location should be converted to the first high-rise condo building in Lafayette, to appease Sacramento. Just to prove we are not NIMBYs, just in favor of rational development rationally located.
How many floors do you envision lovetwen… hey, we see what what you did there, thanks!
Six to ten floors should make enough of a statement that Lafayette is not opposed to any development anywhere. Sacramento will force high rises on suburbia regardless, so it might as well be an appropriate location.
“Suburbia” doesn’t have to remain as we know it, a.k.a. a misguided/malicious invention of Big Auto & Big Oil that started in the ’50s. Why not do better, like the prewar Streetcar Suburbia? See: Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988).
In any case I think the T-Bell building is protected by historical preservation codes.
Lots of history in that location including SNL alum and Lafayette native Will Forte mentioning it was a legendary stop growing up.
I think some low income housing would be appropriate for the location.
Firestone 11R
At least it will be like a breath of Fresh Air.
Like a WWII Bomber, Taco Bell’s side wall counted blown up bathrooms.
Not quite sure what that means, unless we’re talking completed mission symbols, but we’re intrigued…
Joking, After consuming meals of spicy meats and Beans. Stereo typical comment is Mexican food causes spicy gas.
One can ‘Blow up’ a Bathroom no one can use afterwards until the smell dissipates. WWII Bomber reference is symbols of Toilets on the side wall. Depicting many satisfied customers.
New joke, don’t overthink. ‘Now where will all the Stoners go?’
Not a remark about Lafayette. Its Taco Bell would be a place Stoners go to get their munchies. Munchies is slang for the excessive hunger smoking weed causes. Its something I wouldn’t know by experience, just heard its the case.
Its just after Twelve , Merry Christmas.
Off-gassing… got it. And Merry Christmas back…
My high school sweetheart worked there in the 70s. He could escape me in the halls at Campo and football practice, but I always knew where I could “place my order.” Bon Voyage!
Awww, that’s sweet! High School Romance blossoming under the heat lamps at TacoBell! Now that’s a Lamorinda story!
As a teen would see a cheap movie at the Park Theater with my friends and next stop was Taco Bell.
Sad to see it go.
The perfect place for take-out from Olive Garden!
All of these great comments and memories flies in the face of the initial comment calling the people of Lafayette “snobby”. I have never seen so many pickup trucks and construction vehicles as I see parked in the parking lots of Lafayette. Drive by El Charro on any evening. The people of Lafayette are not snobby
Those trucks are just stealth Lamborghinis. And sweeping generalizations are pretty much recognized for what they are. There are nice people in these parts who could buy us out ten times over who look like they sleep in the park. Any “snobs” we run into are generally people without money who want us to think they have it.
Not all rich people are snobs, and not all snobs are rich. And not everyone in Lamorinda is wealthy, despite being a wealthy area. Most people with money will keep it under their hat. They don’t want you to know…
Exactly right… we’ve known a couple of people who looked like they slept on the beach but who were actually Rockefeller-rich.
There is much fortune in simply knowing who you are.
(fortune-cookieism)
Anyone know what happened? It’s still open!
We went by when we saw the lights still on and the folks there said no one is saying anything and that they didn’t know when the last day would be. Apparently they haven’t been told much. Wish them the best.
It closes tomorrow Tuesday the 13th