Original Taco Bell Stand In Downey Spared Wrecking Ball, Set For Relocation
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — The world's first Taco Bell may not have to "run for the border" to be spared demolition.
Company officials say they'll relocate its flagship 400-square-foot taco stand from its original location in Downey to Taco Bell corporate headquarters in Irvine, according to the Orange County Register.
The stand at 7112 Firestone Boulevard was hand constructed and first opened in 1962 by founder Glen Bell. It soon became a fast-food landmark as the Taco Bell brand exploded across the Southland.
The space was taken over later by an independent fast-food restaurant, Seafood & Taco's Raul, which closed last year. It had previously been under an "imminent threat of demolition" due to lack of use.
But thanks to a social media campaign using #savetacobell, the company is set to spare the old-school walk-up-style stand with a 45-mile overnight relocation effort on Thursday that will reportedly span through several Southland cities, including Norwalk, Anaheim, Orange, and Tustin.
Fans can follow the roughly four-to-five-hour trip - which the company is calling the "Numero Uno Relocation" - via a live webcam.
