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Taco Bell to Roslindale: It's nacho decision whether we open on American Legion Highway

Old Frosty Freeze in Roslindale, where the Taco Bell would go

Old Frosty Freeze, where the Taco Bell would go.

A Taco Bell franchisee has started advertising for managers and workers at its proposed site next to the Wendy's on American Legion Highway even though it does not yet have approval from the Zoning Board of Appeals or the Boston Licensing Board and has yet to even pull permits from ISD to replace the small ice-cream stand that's now there.

Last month, members of the Mount Hope Mount Canterbury Neighborhood Associationvoted 59-0 to oppose the Taco Bell, saying the strip already has more than enough fast food.

The franchisee's ad on Craigslist notes that among the benefits workers get: Half off on Taco Bell food.

We're looking to make our Taco Bell the Best Place to eat, work, and own and would love to have passionate, exciting people join our family as we grow as fast as lightening.

Via Keep Roslindale Quirky.

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Comments

Able to block this business from opening in that plaza? Are they looking for a quid pro quo? It's a shopping plaza, they should be happy a well known legitimate business franchise wants to invest $, provide jobs at that location.

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As evidenced by the fact that Taco Bell decided to advertise for workers.

However, both the zoning and the licensing board do take their vote into account; in fact, they would defer any vote if Taco Bell did not meet with the neighbors. But even if they neighbors are opposed, both boards are free to approve the thing anyway.

As for why there's opposition; click on the link in the post to my earlier post about the association meeting; it's explained there. TL;DR version: Too much fast food on that stretch already, in addition to trash and traffic concerns.

Also, for what it's worth, the Taco Bell would NOT be in the strip mall. It'd be up near Walk Hill Street by the Wendy's and the Haley School.

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they should be happy a well known legitimate business franchise wants to invest $, provide jobs at that location.

This description is as appropriate for Taco Bell as it is to call Donald Trump 'a well known legitimate businessman.' Thanks for the chuckle.

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They're a little cheesed off, actually.

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Speaking 100% from a business standpoint here:

What isn't well known or legitimate about Taco Bell? You may not like the food, but it's one of the most recognizable fast food brands out there and owned by a Fortune 500 company. The same could be said for Donald Trump–The guy is an asshat, but he's a well known businessman, and though many have failed, seems to at least run legitimate businesses.

Whether a Taco Bell should go into this location (I don't live there so have no opinion) or Donald Trump should be named leader of the free world (oh hell no) is another argument altogether.

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You know what, sometimes people want to eat a certain kind of taco, even if its not technically better or as good as an authentic taco. Just like sometimes you want a cheap hotdog instead of a fancy sausage. And if nobody goes there, then it will close, but if people go there, it deserves to be there. I'm actually nonplussed by the lack of ANY Taco Bell in Boston even though I would normally gravitate towards places like El Pelon for their quality.

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Granted, one is barely in Boston and the other is kind of hidden, but ...

There's a Taco Bell in West Roxbury on VFW Parkway inbound, just past the Dedham line (which doubles as Boston's only Long John Silver's), and another in a food court somewhere at Northeastern.

There used to be a third, on Hyde Park Avenue in, um, Roslindale or Hyde Park (I think it's Roslindale, but if I'm wrong, somebody will correct me) but it closed a few years ago (and now it's one of Boston's few Pizza Huts, maybe its only).

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On comm ave in BU-land. It's gone now.

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That wasn't Allston. It was a short walk from Kenmore. Used to be one on Huntington in the same block as Symphony Hall.

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Arthur Treacher's Fish & Chips

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Was in fact in Hyde Park. The line on Hyde Park Avenue is to the north of the Eversource yard. I was running by there on Saturday and bemoaned the lack of the KFC. What can I say? I've never made a run for the border, but to get the combination of herbs and spices makes my mouth water just thinking about it.

I'm no opponent of this fast food place (or any fast food place) coming in there, but yeah, you shouldn't be hiring people before you have the okay to even locate there. I mean, there isn't even a building yet.

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Down to Washington St. in West Roxbury :-)

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I won't go up Washington Street for reasons you would know better than I do, but I do run from the Grove to the Square. I've been meaning to go a bit further into Dedham and do a run from the Dedham Mall, but somehow I ended up making the run longer to Dedham Square and the driving range.

Little secret about me and that KFC. I once had a phone number one digit off from them. We would get calls occasionally. When they were closed after the fire, we gave people the bad news.

Also, I do go by a KFC on one of my routes- on American Legion Highway. You know what that place needs? A Taco Bell.

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Of all the Curry Student Center dining options listed on Northeastern's website, Taco Bell Express is the only one that is closed all summer.

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Its like what I say about McDonald's.. you don't go to McDonald's because you want a good burger. You go there because it's McDonald's and you know what you'll get. It may not be the best food but it's consistent.

Same with Taco Bell.You don't go there because you want a good taco, you go because it's taco bell and you can get a box of tacos for 10 bucks.

I just love how these neighborhood groups protest chain places, yet fail to see that people actually do eat there. Just because THEY don't, doesn't mean no one does. Much like you said, if they open and get no business, Taco Bell will very quickly close the store.

I also don't buy the "too much fast food" argument.. sorry which would you rather have? Constant empty store fronts that open and close so fast because the businesses can't succeed. Or a chain store that will pay the rent regardless of sales for a very long time and be an anchor.

And it boils down to what I said above.. don't like fast food? Don't eat there. But don't force your dislike for fast food on others because YOU don't like it (because many people do). Let people make their own choices on where they want to eat.

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Just because THEY don't, doesn't mean no one does.

It might result in contact with ... THOSE people!

Won't somebody save our little nation state from THOSE people?

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Why don't you take a trip down there this weekend and see if you still think this is just racist whites wanting to keep out blacks. Maybe then you'll rescind your insult to both the residents and the people who shop there.

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Those people? You need to get out more.

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They have a McDonald's there. And a Popeye's. And a Wendy's, a KFC, a Simco's and probably a couple of places I'm forgetting.

One thing there isn't down there is empty storefronts. Taco Bell wouldn't be moving into an empty storefront. They'd be tearing down a tiny seasonal ice-cream stand that you wouldn't see from the road anyway (you really have to be looking for it).

My apologies for focusing on the "too much fast food" argument, because while that seems to have been the residents' main issue, there are also issues that come along with that, such as trash and safety (there is a school right there that, amazingly, some kids actually walk to).

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My apologies for focusing on the "too much fast food" argument, because while that seems to have been the residents' main issue, there are also issues that come along with that, such as trash and safety (there is a school right there that, amazingly, some kids actually walk to).

Invalid also. The argument can be used for ANY STORE. Not just fast food. Trash, safety, kids...all can apply to anything from Fast Food to Stop & Shop. Point invalid in my book.

It's a retail strip.. not surprising there's alot of chain stores. Not sure where the outcry is. Sure if it was Rozzie Village, they would have a point since it's not a retail strip.

Sorry I think they are grasping at straws to keep a fast food chain out.

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...you're advocating that the Taco Bell should instead be put in one of the readily available vacant storefronts in the Square?

[just trolling]

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In all honesty, I'd walk down to the square for some late night drunken taco binges. At least it'd be something open late and generating traffic.

(There's already a Subway in the square, but nobody really seems concerned about that when they're talking about chains. Is it because it's mildly more healthy? Nestled between other low-traffic storefronts?)

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The usual people were mad about the Subway when it came to town as well. I believe one UHub regular decried that the Subway led to an increase in garbage in the square specifically, because I guess Subway patrons litter more than people who go to Romano's or something.

However the Subway was a walk-up location in an existing, zoned space so I don't think there was any need for community input - a bit different that the Taco Bell.

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The usual people

Meaning?

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Honestly, I feel like this is well trod ground that I'm not interested in rehashing.

Some people believe the city should actively guide which businesses go into the Square, some don't. YMMV, etc...

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They kept it quiet until the lease was signed and it was too late to do anything about it (Subway moving in). You should have heard the hell people raised about the possibility of a Dominoes moving in next door! I agreed with those protests, because of the lack of parking for that storefront and the fact that people regularly double-park in front of that Subway, obstructing traffic and causing a dangerous situation.

Too be honest, the Taco Bell moving into that location is kind of hard to argue with. There is already a line of cars every night at the Wendy's, so I don't see it making too much difference. I would certainly prefer a Anna's taqueria or some other Mom and Pop operation, but that location is not likely to draw that type of business (it's not like the ice cream shop has ever done well in that spot, and Primavera could never seem to figure out how to bring people in).

Really...the proposed apartment building across the street (where Primavera was located) has me a LOT more concerned! We do not need a giant apartment building in that location. I will just cause crazy traffic and parking issues in and around that intersection.

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The building's owner was very up front that chain stores would most likely be tenants. They went through the same process every other restaurant goes through. The difference was that they were not seen as a threat to any of the established businesses they way Dominos, Brooks Pharmacy, or the stupid pet place were.

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I asked several people knowledgeable of the situation (during the whole Domino's brewhaha). Subway would have gotten a big protest, if it had been widely made known to the community prior to the lease being signed...

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While the building was being finished, the owner was completely up front and said that chain stores would be coming in. It was reported in the Bulletin (and probably in the Transcript, but I wasn't reading it at the time.)

Why people didn't care I cannot say. The stupid dog place had a signed lease when people found out, and as I recall people were strongly against Pet Cabaret having competition. Sorry, I meant to say they were against chains.

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You know what, sometimes people want to eat a certain kind of taco, even if its not technically better or as good as an authentic taco.

I'm surrounded by some of the best authentic in Boston, but every now and then I head over to Everett or Revere for some cheesy gordita goodness, and have no regrets.

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It can't remotely be considered Mexican food. Well, it sort of resembles Sonoran style cuisine, but only to a very limited extent. Just the same, and in spite of having lived several years in Mexico, I love Taco Bell because my family went their a lot when I was a kid. It is a certain type of comfort food. Anyway, American Legion Highway seems like a good place for fast food establishments. There is a bit of a critical mass for the business type, and it is a fairly car-centric section of Roslindale, therefore working a bit better for fast food take-out. If not Taco Bell, then why McDonalds/Wendys and KFC/Popeyes? And what of Simcoes? It may be an institution, but it is nevertheless the very same type of business in very nearly the same location.

On the other hand, it seems presumptuous for this Taco Bell franchise to already be hiring staff positions. That alone makes me feel almost like we should oppose a legal business from operating in a location zoned to allow that very type of business. Almost.

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as fast as lightening

Or at least an editor. Unless they're trying to grow as fast as it takes the sky to get brighter, but not quite as fast as a bolt of electrostatic discharge.

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why are there so few KFCs in greater boston but im seeing a commercial every time I put on the television. also, why is Popeye's in such limited areas?

they built a KFC out near Walpole a few years ago and it closed down in less than two months. the service was atrocious and it was very dirty even though it was a newly built building. it is a Russian language school now.

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Is on American Legion Highway. And, no, it hasn't put the KFC out of business. It's still there, too.

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I concur, there's no KFC or even McDonald's/Burger King near Copley Square, i wish they'd open locations there.

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Then it had a fire. But don't fret - there's still the Wendy's on Boylston.

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All three near me have closed and been either torn down (Inman Square) or converted to local Asian restaurants (North Cambridge and East Somerville)

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No, be glad those locations were closed. Simply disgusting locations. So dirty. The one on Prospect in Cambridge had such a rat problem.

There's still a few KFC's around.. one in Revere Beach Parkway in Everett, Squire Road (Route 60) in the Northgate Mall (free standing) in Revere, Lynnway in Lynn, Route 1 in Saugus, and Everett Square in Dorchester.

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Replaced with a tall building, with ground-floor retail... and SOMEHOW they got approval for that retail space to become a slick dry cleaning and alterations place, POACHING FROM THE LONG-TIME FAMILY-OWNED SMALL BUSINESS TWO DOORS DOWN.

I'd love to know whoever at the city let that happen, through negligence or corruption.

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Just because there's already a dry cleaning/tailoring business on the block is absolutely no reason to not allow a competing business to open. Just because Ali's has been in Inman forever doesn't give them any sort of monopoly rights in the neighborhood. The city denying a competitor the ability to operate in the neighborhood because of a sole existing dry cleaner would be exactly the type of corruption & cronyism you're alluding to.

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Plopping down this kind of slick prefabricated chain competition right next door to a long-time local business is just predatory. And not serving that corner with NEW services it could use instead.

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If you think businesses just get "plopped down" -- yes, even chain ones -- you have a really twisted idea of what goes into starting a business someplace. Moreover, you don't get to hand pick what business goes in: if it's an allowed use by zoning, it should be & is good for them to start, period. Let them succeed or fail on the merits.

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Popeye's is right on Revere Beach Parkway, too.

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They should open in the seaport, thats chain central, and if they called their tacos innnovation meals they could probably score some charity from Baker and Walsh.

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You know no one will ever open a business in the Seaport without a designated TB Helipad.

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Leave it to UHub commenters to make a laissez faire economics argument for Taco Bell, a place that serves up junk that poisons people and provides no benefit to anyone, and demand that area residents just accept that in their community where that stretch is already inundated with fast food joints.

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If this is the only news/news aggregator website where people are making comments saying it's okay that Taco Bell opens another store, that only means that this is the only news/news aggregator talking about Taco Bell.

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must object to an awful lot of restaurants, from similar fast-food establishments up to rather high-end places that don't serve particularly healthy food.

Is that your argument, that we should insist that restaurants only serve meals that in composition and portion size are actually wholesome for their customers? Because if it isn't, then you seem to be singling out Taco Bell unfairly.

As for "no benefit to anyone", I'd say it would be contributing some (admittedly low-wage) jobs, generating some tax revenue for the state, and satisfying a certain demand, as evidenced by its fans here and elsewhere.

Personally, I hate the growth of chain restaurants over local indies, I wouldn't be caught dead eating Taco Bell's nasty food, and I routinely exhort my friends and readers to do the same. But I'm for education to curb demand, not prohibition. That approach never works.

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Seriously?

I work in Public Health and I wouldn't go that far. Dose makes the poison, dear, and there are many reasons why people eat too much junk food. Not all of them are illogical.

I personally only eat at such places when I have few other choices or an extreme yen for some very particular thing. Others eat there because they can't afford much better, or are so pressed for time that they don't have time to shop and cook healthy meals.

Complicated problem that goes far beyond your simplistic treatment.

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so it's hard to credit your position.

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I know it doesn't help obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes, etc. but I think it's deeeeeelish and good for my budget!!! Yummmm Brands!

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Surely the owner's religious beliefs and/or politics need to pass muster first and foremost, correct?

What's good for Chick-Fil-A must be good for Taco Bell...and for any other prospective business owner in this silly fiefdom. So let the Mexican Inquisition begin! And the next one, and the next one, and...

I believe Chick-Fil-A has a very loyal customer base, probably beyond what Taco Bell could ever hope for. Looking forward to trying CFA some time. Rest assured, I'll be thinking of the late Mayor Menino when I do.

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There's a megachurch right across the street.

Oh, and I would probably be snacking there as often as possible. Burlington is kind of a hike from Boston.

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I think it should be left to consumers as to whether they want to put money in the pockets of shrieking bigots or not.

Their food is only marginally less crummy than any other big chain serving fried CAFO chicken, so I'd be shunning it anyway, but eff those guys for their homophobia.

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There's Chick-Fil-A locations inside the Burlington and Northshore Malls.

I also think a free standing location just opened in Hyannis.

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It was about the chain's well documented practice of illegally forcing those beliefs on its workforce.

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One of the major issues for the Haley School community is that this would be directly next to the school. There would be much more traffic coming in and out, much more litter, and more likelihood that kids would grab fast food after school. This article from the NY Times talks about how having fast food closer to schools makes it more likely that the kids suffer from obesity: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/26/health/nutrition/26obese.html?_r=0

My kids walk or bike to the Haley every day. How about more outdoor play space on American Legion, rather than another fast food restaurant?

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OMG, maybe the parents could take away the iPads/Xbox/phones and have the kids exercise. Don't blame obesity on fast food. The eater needs a little self control and take some personal responsibility.

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Have you ever been to the corner of American Legion and Walk Hill? If that's too far for the kids to walk, I don't think poor diet is the biggest concern.

If you want something different on the site, track down the owner and buy the parcel.

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The fast food was there long before the bowling alley was turned into a school. This is one junk food place replacing another junk food place, right next to a third junk food place. If you didn't want your kids going to school next to fast food places, you shouldn't have sent them to a school located next to fast food places.

Which way do your kids walk to the Haley? Past the Wendys, past the KFC, or past the Simco?

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Taco Bell!

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Taco hell, taco smell, I love you Taco Bell. I don't know who these food snobs are but your taco supreme with fire sauce kicks ass. I am disappointed by your minimum wage staff a lot of the time, however, your fine food has never caused me trouble. The only thing that has is that it's become less convenient to find locations! And that you discontinued the chicken club burrito. That made me fat one summer while working a mall job in Kingston but it sure kicked ass!!!
-skinny from eating vegan crap

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if the person involved is the sort that thinks cheap food = bad food. That's obviously rubbish: low-end restaurants are the bedrock of Boston's dining scene. You cannot appreciate what makes this a great food city if you're not dining at our low-cost restaurants on the regular.

That said, some cheap food is better than other cheap food. I don't pay much more for tacos at El Amigo or La Victoria or Jalisco or Chilicates than Taco Bell customers do, but I'm enjoying them a lot more, and none of them make me nauseous after 20 minutes the way most corporate mega-chain food does.

Seeking out quality cheap food -- hint: look for ex-pat chefs cooking mainly for other ex-pats -- doesn't necessarily connote snobbery. Some of us just consider settling for a merely okay meal, when excellence can be found with just a bit more effort, to be an avoidable tragedy.

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I like the headline, "It's nacho decision..."
Taco Bell will do well there. It you don't like Taco Bell, eat somewhere else.
They should want to keep their property and the neighborhood clean.

P.S. Thank you adamg for Universal Hub. Great pictures and stories.

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If it were up to me I would prefer Chick Fil a

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