(Photo by Nathan DeBruin, for Kenosha County Eye)
KENOSHA, Wis. — Two southeastern Wisconsin Taco John’s restaurants have quietly closed their doors for good, ending the chain’s brief run in Kenosha and Racine and generating significant discussion on social media among customers. Google now lists both the Kenosha restaurant on 75th Street and the Mount Pleasant location on Washington Avenue as permanently closed.
The Racine-area restaurant opened in August 2024 with hopes of expanding the brand’s footprint in southeastern Wisconsin. The Kenosha location followed as part of the company’s efforts to grow in larger metropolitan markets after decades of focusing primarily on smaller Midwestern communities.
(Photo by Nathan DeBruin, for Kenosha County Eye)
The closures appear to have taken place within the last week. Residents first noticed traffic cones blocking the Kenosha parking lot, while others reported arriving at the restaurants only to find them closed. Social media posts quickly spread, with customers confirming that both locations had shut down.
Reaction online has been mixed. Some longtime Taco John’s fans expressed disappointment, saying they enjoyed the restaurant’s unique menu and were sad to see another dining option disappear. Others were less sentimental, criticizing the chain’s prices, saying the food didn’t justify repeat visits, or commenting that they preferred competing Mexican-inspired fast-food restaurants.
Founded in Cheyenne, Wyoming, in 1969, Taco John’s has grown into one of the nation’s largest Mexican-inspired quick-service restaurant chains, operating hundreds of locations across more than 20 states. The company is perhaps best known for its signature Potato Olés, seasoned potato bites that have developed a loyal following over the decades. The chain also spent years holding the trademark for the phrase “Taco Tuesday” before giving it up in 2023 after a legal challenge from Taco Bell.
For many Wisconsin residents, Taco John’s has long been a familiar brand, particularly in smaller communities throughout the state. In recent years, company officials had expressed optimism about expanding into the Milwaukee market, believing the area already had strong brand recognition.
It is unclear why the Kenosha and Racine-area restaurants closed. No public announcement explaining the decision had been made as of Monday evening.
Although the two southeastern Wisconsin locations are now gone, Taco John’s continues to operate numerous restaurants elsewhere in Wisconsin and throughout the Midwest.
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21 Responses
I predicted this to my husband a few months ago, and boom, here it is! I blame it on poor management. The tacos weren’t that great either.
No fast food is ever that great, yet people still waddle around at 300 + lbs.
I said it wouldnt last before they even opened. I’m honestly surprised they lasted as long as they did. If Taco Bell is a step up….you’re doomed. Food was nasty.
HAHA Taco John sux ass — my first experience w/ Taco John’s was driving thru WY w/ my daughter— we was hangry and BEHOLD ….. a place called Taco John’s ! I figured it was maybe a nicer version of Taco Bell …. boy was I wrong — me and my daughter were like IS THIS FOR REAL ?? Just absolutely awful –I can’t believe they are a franchise in the first place …. but then again many people think Madonna has talent
plus … the ones around here where I live …. you want hot
food when it’s cold out and it’s barely warm.
Never changes …… always barely warm.
Ridiculous.
……and Anna Nicole married for love…
Kenosha city officials do a horrible job of what they let into the city.
compared to what??
you’re kind of ridiculous.
It is a free country, sort of. Let anyone open the restaurant of their choosing. City officials out to have a lot more to concern themselves with.
I went there once and they forgot my Potato Olés. I never gave them a second chance.
Too bad. Kenosha has a scarcity of Mexican restaurants.
Taco John’s has a long history and does OK in other regions and localities where it’s much better known. That Kenosha’s bubble-boom years are fading likely has much to do with these closings. Premium-priced fast food sales decrease faster than the decrease in their local host economy, i.e., it’s a negative convex relationship.
Ate at the one in black river falls. Once. So greasy they went through the bag. So the local wolves got a treat from me by hall’s creek!!
This is sad for someone who grew up on Taco John’s in the 80’s, it was so good. When this one opened, was very excited, but was immediately disappointed. Pure 🗑.
Kenosha doesn’t have enough Mexicans to support these quality establishments
I visited the Kenosha restaurant once. The meat was disgusting. I never went there again. I never saw their parking lot busy. I knew they were going to close. My teenage daughter and her friends didn’t like it either.
When I went there a few weeks ago the two teen girls manning the cash register were obviously stoned.
It came down to bad customer service overall, if it was not room temperature food it was cold. Very overpriced compared to taco bell prices. And like I said, the staff was rude and slow and did not care. Too bad, I grew up in a small town up north and I remember Taco Johns there being better than this.
A total of four people lost their job and 2 families now have to find some place else to eat on Fridays.
Wait for shock when Coopers Hawk goes under. Pleasant Prairie/Kenosha does not have the quality labor to field this kind of operation.
Say bye bye by 2028
Taco Johns does well in the western part of the country and their sourcing and menu is much better than Taco Bell, which basically squeezes all of their food products out of plastic bags from a factory somewhere. I knew they wouldn’t make it here in the land of flamin hot cheetos and a liquor store on every corner.