Chef Thomas Stacy, an alum of Pineapple & Pearls who previously ran the private-dining project Reikina, is trading white tablecloths for tortillas at Alethia Tanner Park in NoMa. His new concept, Tommy’s Tacos, is a Tex-Mex counter that will operate from a roughly 500-square-foot pavilion inside the park and is expected to start serving in mid-June. Under the deal, a portion of every sale will loop back into the park to help cover upkeep.
Tommy’s Tacos is set to fill the park pavilion on the southwest corner at 227 Harry Thomas Way NE, a space originally designed with a food operator in mind, according to NoMa BID. As detailed by the Washington Business Journal, the unit comes in at about 500 square feet, and the BID has signed a three-year lease with Stacy. The compact pavilion is set up for quick, walk-up service geared toward park regulars and people passing through on the Metropolitan Branch Trail.
From Fine-Dining To Fast-Casual Tacos
Locally, Stacy is best known for his work at Pineapple & Pearls and his run with Reikina. With Tommy’s Tacos, he is pivoting to a more relaxed, Tex-Mex-driven format that aims for everyday crowds instead of special-occasion diners. PoPville reported that NoMa BID tapped Stacy to take over the park counter, a move that fits a broader pattern of high-end chefs trying out more approachable, fast-casual projects.
A New Revenue Stream For The Park
The BID has described the arrangement as a first-of-its-kind partnership in D.C., with a slice of every transaction committed to Alethia Tanner Park's maintenance and programming, including movie nights, markets and routine care. NoMa BID notes that the pavilion already includes roughed-in infrastructure, which cuts down on the time needed to finish the buildout. For a small operator working within a 500-square-foot kitchen, that head start can be the difference between a fleeting popup and a long-term neighborhood staple.
When To Expect It
The opening timeline is currently set for mid-June, with the possibility of previews or soft-opening service in the weeks leading up, according to the Washington Business Journal. The report describes a tight, fast-casual counter built to move lines quickly during busy park events. If everything stays on schedule, Tommy’s Tacos is poised to become an easy option for quick picnics, post-run refueling and NoMa event nights.
What To Expect From The Menu
A recent look from PoPville suggests the menu will focus on breakfast tacos, fajita-style fillings, bowls and shareable staples like chips and queso. The streamlined, familiar lineup is tailored to a park setting and could help the counter turn into a regular stop for visitors during outdoor movie nights and the farmers market. NoMa officials say the partnership is designed to boost everyday energy in the park while giving local restaurateurs a lower-risk way to operate.
