[Floyd]

Does anyone remember the mexican fast food restaurant chain in the 70's and early 80's called "Taco Charley"? They had a location on Pacific Avenue in Stockton. It was better food than Taco Bell, which ironically bought them out in the early 80's.One menu item was was kept during the changeover was the "Taco Lite" which was like a Taco Supreme but in a Crispy Flour Tortilla instead of a Corn Tortilla. Does anyone know the history of this chain?

[romleys]

Despite not knowing the history I do know that where some locations were located.
1700 Contra Costa Blvd., Pleasant Hill, CA (Now a Taco Bell)

Foothill Blvd., Hayward, CA (Now a Taco Bell)

Sacramento, CA (Unknown Status)

These locations had exterior architecture which looked like the Cosmo design which Burger Chef restaurants from the 1960's and 1970's had.

Hope this helps :)

[Groceteria]

FYI, there's a Taco Charley commercial available for viewing here:

http://www.ncvideo.com/ncvideo_commercial.htm

And if their buildings are the ones I'm thinking of, then this thread has answered a long-standing question of mine, namely what all those Taco Bell locations in California that look like they used to be something else actually WERE. If it's the prototype I'm thinking of, there are lots of them in the Bay Area.

[bigbubby]

Does anyone remember the mexican fast food restaurant chain in the 70's and early 80's called "Taco Charley"? They had a location on Pacific Avenue in Stockton. It was better food than Taco Bell, which ironically bought them out in the early 80's.One menu item was was kept during the changeover was the "Taco Lite" which was like a Taco Supreme but in a Crispy Flour Tortilla instead of a Corn Tortilla. Does anyone know the history of this chain?

That sounds familiar. What I do remember for sure was the 39 Cent Hamburger Stand on Hammer Lane across from what was originally Zody's, then Pak N Save, then a race track, and now a 99 Cent store. Coincidentally, when Zody's was there Alpha Beta was next door.

[Jeff]

The 39 cent hamburger stands were great for a shoestring budget. I loved going there as a kid.

Coincedentally, the one I used to go to all the time in Pomona survived until about 3 years ago. It went up to 49 cents in the late 90s. i had found a 2nd location down here in Norwalk that lasted until about 2 years ago.

They both have gone back to Wienerschnitzel locations.

[Daniel]

Looking at that commercial, we must've had those in Fresno. There were 2 Taco Bells that were in buildings with that architecture. I just assumed they had always been Taco Bells since the buildings were very similar to a 70's Taco Bell.

[TheStranger]

I have never heard of this chain before, but some research by Charles Hathaway pointed out a former location in the Lemon Hill area of Sacramento, now operating as Taco Bell at 5919 Stockton Boulevard. This is across the street from a former Lucky/Albertsons.

http://dtcwrt.earlracing.com/stores/sac.htm


Anyone have any more information on this chain?

[Benchdawg]

I worked at the Taco Charley's on Pacific Avenue. In fact it was my first job in high school. When I interviewed, the restaurant was still under construction so all of us new hires trained at either the Taco Bell at Hammer/Pacific or one in Modesto. I trained at the Taco Bell in Modesto. If I recall, and with a few exceptions,Taco Charleys menu was pretty much the same as Taco Bell's but they had different names for the items. I also recall that Taco Charley's was part of the Calny brand which was a subsidiary of Pepsico. Like Taco Bell, the restaurant only sold beverages under the pepsico brand. I worked there for a little over a year.