Taco Bueno pulls out of Springfield market

The fast-casual Mexican food chain opened locations at 334 N. West Bypass, 2119 S. Glenstone Ave. and 2113 W. Republic Road in fall 2006 and shut them down last month, Taco Bueno Senior Vice President of Marketing Scott Terraciano-Spence confirmed.

“We were very disappointed to have not done a better job there,” said Terraciano-Spence, who would not disclose financial specifics. “It’s a combination of economic conditions, and Springfield’s a very competitive town – there’s a lot of fast food and Mexican offerings. I think that was a double whammy that just made it so we couldn’t quite get to where we needed to be.”

Terraciano-Spence could not specify the number of employees let go in Springfield but said manager-level workers were offered positions at other Taco Bueno locations, the nearest of which are in Tulsa, Okla., and Kansas City.

Taco Bueno originally planned to add three to four more locations in southwest Missouri, including one in Branson, the company told Springfield Business Journal in 2006.

The chain is owned by New York City-based private investment firm Palladium Equity Partners. There are about 150 Taco Bueno locations in nine states, primarily Oklahoma and Texas.

“We love the town of Springfield,” Terraciano-Spence said, “and hope to be back one day.”