Revelstoke’s own Taco Club has a new place to call home. The popular food truck is now dishing out their eats in front of 107 Second Street East, while offering a place to escape from the cold, dine and drink inside.
Walking into the large, open space that used to be Benoit’s Wine Bar, you are instantly warmed by the lively orange-colored walls that muse of Mexican sunsets and showcase some local creative minds. The layout of the space remains largely unchanged. There’s a small stage at the left of the room and tables throughout.
The bar stands in the centre of the room, displaying the various tequilas available for consumption, while boards around the space boast not only an expanded food menu, but a multitude of beers available and a short but sweet signature cocktail menu.
It seems the space is quite versatile, catering to those seeking good food, and drink in an atmosphere that remains social and inviting. Not quite a bar, and not quite a full restaurant, owners Reilly Geidt and Mike Brown hope for the new Taco Club to become a hub, showcasing some of the good qualities of Revelstoke: creativity, community, good food and beer.
Over the last year and a half, the mobile eatery has amassed a following of regular customers satisfied by their tacos and burritos made from fresh ingredients. Brown and Geidt attribute much of their success to consistency in both food and presence.
Although operating a food truck does have its challenges. Recognizing their capacity for mobile catering means foregoing valuable local customers. This delicate balance was a factor in their decision to seek a permanent location; another factor was seasonal weather.
Fall and winter can be cold and wet at the worst of times, leaving customers with no place to eat, or turning them away completely.
As well, with 60-square-feet of prep area in the truck, space and power were limiting factors preventing the eatery from expanding their menu.
Their new location looks to be a viable solution to these challenges, allowing them to keep their customers happy, employ more people and evolve their flavour.
In keeping things fresh and complimenting their food menu, Taco Club goers can refresh their palate with cocktails made with real fruit. There are also Tequila Flights in the works, where you can sample three of their various kinds of tequila. Tequila’s range from reasonable to $19 for the most expensive one.
So far, the business expansion has surpassed both Brown and Geidt’s expectations. “I’m excited for people to be enjoying themselves in here. That has been a great thing to see,” said Geidt, comparing the brief customer interaction that is common with food truck operations.
Front End Manager Jen Kipling, from Somewon Collective, has brought her entrepreneurial skills to the table, bringing along her passion and sharing the vision for taco evolution in Revelstoke.
Brown and Geidt are grateful for the support they have received from the community, as well as from the city, who have maintained an open dialogue with them. They look forward to continue to grow The Taco Club and add new flavours and products.
Their new location adds to the repertoire of new businesses in the Second Street East area, all the while adding a lively flare to the expanding downtown core.
