Fast-casual Mexican boom (2000s-2010s)
Chipotle, Qdoba, and similar chains expanded rapidly across the U.S., turning fast-casual Mexican food into a mainstream category and pushing regional players to grow their own footprints.
Hundreds of new locations opened in mid-sized and large cities, including Salt Lake City.
The category's growth raised the bar for regional chains, which had to expand to stay competitive.
Taco America's new location follows the same playbook: a regional chain adding outlets to hold ground against national competitors.
