Del Taco's Florida Future Expansion Plans Include Bradenton

BRADENTON, FLA — A West Coast Mexican fast-food staple will be part of the greater Bradenton-Sarasota area sometime in 2022 after Del Taco recently announced it is expanding along Florida’s West Coast as part of a multi-unit development deal with FreshMex FL LLC.

The timing and exact locations of the openings of the new restaurants have not yet been determined, a company spokesman said Wednesday. However, the company said that Del Taco — which opened its first Florida location Wednesday in Melbourne — said that the Bradenton and Sarasota area will be part of the expansion and will anchor the expansion plans around the metropolitan Tampa area.

Most of the expansion will take place in the greater Tampa area and along the state’s West Coast and will open as part of Orlando-based FreshMex FL LLC. The “Fresh Flex” locations will be an offshoot of Del Taco’s fast-and-fresh approach to Mexican food that will focus primarily on pickup and drive-thru options, the company said in a news release.

At least seven locations will open in the region once the stores begin to open. The Tampa Bay Times reported that Del Taco’s senior vice president of development predicted sites will begin opening sometime next year.

“(FreshMex FL LLC’s) initial development geography is Sarasota/Bradenton, but I expect that he will range beyond that as good sites come available across the metro area,” Jeff Little, the Del Taco executive, told the newspaper. “No specific sites or cities approved yet, but I suspect we’ll have a unit open sometime in 2022 at the rate that he is sourcing real estate.”

Most of Del Taco’s 600 locations are situated in the Southwest, with the company based in Southern California. In addition to Mexican food, the chain offers burger, milkshakes and a variety of vegetarian menu items.