Tex-Mex is about to join the flight path near Midway. Taco Works, the national offshoot of a Miami-born brand, is headed to 3800 S Cicero Ave, just north of Midway International Airport. Franchise owner Vipul Soni said he hopes to have the counter-service spot open in roughly 45 days, serving taco platters with birria, al pastor and steak chimichurri, along with fajitas, burritos, bowls, and quesadillas.
Brand and growth
Taco Works is the national banner for Miami’s Taco Rico, which has built a franchise model to expand outside South Florida. As detailed on the franchise site for Taco Rico, the company uses the Taco Works name for out-of-state locations while keeping the same recipes and support system. The franchise pitch leans on quick-serve formats, delivery and catering as key revenue streams, signaling a concept designed to work just as well for takeout and third-party apps as for on-site diners.
Where the Cicero location will be
The Cicero shop is set for a storefront at 3800 S Cicero Avenue on the west side of the street, near the Interstate 55 on-ramp in a plaza that already includes a Gas N Wash and a Dunkin’. The team has released a menu for the new spot that highlights taco platters with birria, al pastor and steak chimichurri, plus bowls, quesadillas, burritos and fajitas. Those details, along with Soni’s projected 45-day timeline, were reported by What Now Chicago.
Expansion beyond Florida
Taco Works has already started popping up outside Florida. Earlier this year, Community Impact covered a Taco Works opening in League City, Texas, part of what the company describes as a national push. The League City shop operates under the Taco Works name even though the parent concept, Taco Rico, is rooted in Miami, a strategy the brand uses to roll out the same menu nationwide, according to franchise materials from Taco Rico. The model pairs local operators with centralized franchise support, which is what the company is pitching to investors and area developers.
What’s next
Soni said he plans to share a firm opening date as construction moves along, and he is eyeing further expansion in the Chicago area if the Cicero location performs well. He has previously operated a franchised Wing Snob in Romeoville, according to an earlier report from What Now Chicago, so Taco Works near Midway will not be his first run at building a fast-casual brand in the region.
