Rusty Taco is taking its made-to-order street-style tacos beyond traditional restaurants, expanding into airports, convenience stores, and other non-traditional spaces. The Dallas-based fast-casual chain will open new locations at Washington Dulles International Airport and Norfolk International Airport this fall, plus an upcoming spot inside Bowlski's in Dallas. These moves show how the brand's flexible concept can thrive in high-traffic environments.
The airport expansion begins with a new location at Norfolk International Airport toward the end of November, growing Rusty Taco's presence among East Coast travelers. In November, the brand will also open its second location at Washington Dulles International Airport in Concourse E, building on its first Dulles location that opened in Concourse D in 2023. The addition demonstrates the brand's popularity and ability to grow in a major travel hub, thanks to a partnership with Affinity LLC, an experienced foodservice operator at Dulles.
"Our growth in airports and other non-traditional venues is a strong example of how we can adapt to different environments while still delivering the same fresh menu guests know and love," said David Gonzalez, VP of Development for Gala Capital Partners, parent company of Rusty Taco. "It's also an opportunity to introduce our brand to travelers from across the country who might be trying us for the first time."
Beyond airports, Rusty Taco is expanding into convenience stores, college campuses, and sports and entertainment venues. Its partnership with Good 2 Go Eats, a convenience store chain with 75 locations, brought the first Rusty Taco C-store to Ammon, Idaho, in 2023, followed by agreements for eight more. Three Denver-area C-stores are open today, with four more set to open in early 2027. These locations feature a reduced menu centered on grab-and-go burritos.
The brand also has a presence at Salt River Fields, spring training home of the Arizona Diamondbacks and Colorado Rockies, and served fans at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis for multiple seasons. This fall, Rusty Taco will add its first bowling alley location at fellow Dallas-based brand Bowlski's.
These non-traditional venues demonstrate how Rusty Taco's concept adapts while maintaining the same made-to-order menu and guest experience. Its flexible operating model supports four dayparts – breakfast, lunch, happy hour, and dinner – creating opportunities to serve guests throughout the day.
"Rusty Taco was built around a simple idea: serve fresh, flavorful ingredients in handcrafted street-style tacos, along with great hospitality," Gonzalez said. "That same approach gives us the flexibility to bring Rusty Taco to places that look very different from a traditional restaurant, and we see significant opportunity to continue growing in new and unexpected places."
With a growing portfolio of traditional and non-traditional locations, Rusty Taco is building its footprint while giving franchisees and partners new ways to reach guests nationwide. For more information, visit www.rustytaco.com/franchise.
Founded in Dallas in 2010, Rusty Taco is a fast-casual neighborhood taco stand serving authentic street-style tacos made with fresh ingredients and made-to-order preparation. The brand has grown to 28 locations across multiple states, offering breakfast tacos, burritos, bowls, quesadillas, margaritas, local beer, and catering. Learn more at RustyTaco.com.
