Taco Bell® Saves Restaurant “Numero Uno” from Demolition

18 Nov 2015, 05:01 AM EST

World’s first Taco Bell® to be relocated from
Downey, CA to company’s headquarters in Irvine

IRVINE, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Taco Bell® today announced plans to raise and rehabilitate the world’s
first Taco Bell restaurant from its 53-year-old foundation in Downey, CA
and relocate it to the Taco Bell headquarters in Irvine, CA — saving it
from impending demolition. On Thursday, November 19, the restaurant,
referred to lovingly as “Numero Uno,” will bid farewell to the community
of Downey and make the 45-mile journey through the streets of Southern
California. The structure will remain on property as the company plans
for the building’s restoration and future use.

“Numero Uno” has held its place in Downey since 1962 when fast food
entrepreneur Glen Bell established the site as a Mexican-inspired center
with shops, live music and fire pits – anchored by a taco stand called
Taco Bell. The 400 square foot walk-up window helped Bell revolutionize
the quick-service industry by bringing Mexican-inspired food to the
masses. It closed as a Taco Bell in 1986 due to the popularity of larger
restaurants with indoor seating and drive-thrus, which this original
location lacked. Since then, however, it operated as other taqueria
restaurants until it was permanently vacated in December of 2014. With
the large plot now vacant, plans for new development caused the building
to face demolition.

“This is arguably the most important restaurant in our company’s
history,” stated Brian Niccol, Chief Executive Officer, Taco Bell Corp.
“To think a business like ours, that spans 6,000 restaurants around the
globe, started with a walk-up window no bigger than a two-car garage is
truly inspirational. When we heard about the chance of it being
demolished, we had to step in. We owe that to our fans, we owe that to
Glen Bell.”

After learning of the proposed demolition in January from the Downey
Conservancy, Taco Bell took to social media to raise awareness,
encouraging fans to tweet #SaveTacoBell to help spread the word. Taco
Bell began working closely with heritage conservation non-profit We Are
The Next for preservation research and management of the building’s
relocation.

“This building isn’t designed by a famous architect, and it’s not
particularly beautiful in the conventional sense. But it does
demonstrate how even the most ordinary buildings can tell tremendous
stories,” stated Katie Rispoli, Executive Director, We Are The Next. “By
saving and conserving structures like the first Taco Bell in Downey, we
hope to set a precedent and demonstrate the great power that can come
from unexpected histories in seemingly-ordinary places.”

The move, which begins at 10:30 p.m., Thursday, November 19 will
mobilize the entire 20X20 foot structure, driving through Downey,
Norwalk, Cerritos, La Palma, Buena Park, Anaheim, Tustin and Orange,
with an anticipated arrival at the Taco Bell headquarters in Irvine
early Friday morning. The building will remain at Taco Bell headquarters
for storage until its future use is determined. Taco Bell plans to make
that decision in the near future, and involve their fans and community
in the process.

“Our fans helped make us who we are, and we feel they should be involved
in the future of the building where it all started,” said Marisa
Thalberg, Chief Brand Engagement Officer, Taco Bell Corp. “This isn’t a
decision that should be made in a boardroom, but a social experience
that can allow our biggest fans to truly be a part of Taco Bell
history.” Fans are encouraged to follow Taco Bell’s social media
channels and #SaveTacoBell to follow “Numero Uno” on Thursday’s move.

Building Route:

• 7112 Firestone Boulevard, Starting Location

• EAST on Firestone Boulevard

• SOUTH on Bloomfield Avenue

• EAST on Del Amo Boulevard

• CONT. onto La Palma

• SOUTH on Tustin Avenue

• CONT. onto S. Tustin Street

• EAST on Chapman Avenue

• SOUTH on Jamboree Road

• EAST on Alton Parkway

• NORTH on Gateway

• 1 Glen Bell Way, Final Location

Watch points are encouraged at the Taco Bell locations along the
route:

• 7127 Firestone Blvd., Downey, CA 90241

• 1075 N. Tustin Ave, Anaheim, CA 92807

• 2233 N. Tustin St., Orange, CA 92865

• 490 N. Tustin St., Orange, CA 92867

• 1 Glen Bell Way, Irvine, CA 92618 (Taco Bell Headquarters)

About Taco Bell Corp.

Taco
Bell Corp., a subsidiary of Yum! Brands, Inc., (NYSE: YUM), is the
nation’s leading Mexican-inspired quick service restaurant. Taco Bell
serves made to order and customizable tacos, burritos, and specialties
such as the exclusive Doritos® Locos Tacos, gourmet-inspired Cantina
Power® Menu, lower calorie Fresco options and is the first QSR
restaurant to offer American Vegetarian Association (AVA)-certified menu
items. Taco Bell Breakfast offers portable, classic items such as the
A.M. Crunchwrap®, Waffle Taco and signature burritos. The company
encourages customers to “Live Más,” both through its food and in ways
such as its Feed
The Beat® music program and its nonprofit organization, the Taco
Bell® Foundation™. Taco Bell and its more than 350 franchise
organizations have more than 6,000 restaurants across the United States
that proudly serve more than 42 million customers every week.