As popular Austin brand Tacodeli brings in restaurant industry veteran Peter Gaudreau as its new CEO, the brand is revving up for a serious expansion.
Citing Gaudreau, the ABJ states that by 2029 there may be 40 Tacodeli locations and that expanding beyond the Lone Star State is on the agenda.
“The 25th anniversary celebration brings a lot of reflection and emotion for our founders,” Gaudreau said. “And the fact that they’ve grown so methodically and slowly over the past 25 years, we’ve really gotten to a place where they believe that they need to share with more communities faster than they’ve done in the past 25 years.”r.
“We are thrilled to welcome Peter (Gaudreau) to the Tacodeli family,” said co-owner and founder Roberto Espinosa in a Nov. 7 announcement of the new growth strategy. “His proven track record, propelled by his operational expertise, aligns perfectly with our vision for the future. Alongside our talented executive team, Peter will help us navigate the ever-changing industry and seize new opportunities.”
Reportedly, the chain’s initial expansion phase will be focused on Texas — the Austin, Houston and Dallas metros in particular.
“We believe we can grow responsibly over the next three to five years in all three of those markets and still not scratch the surface of how many Tacodelis could be in many of those wonderful neighborhoods,” Gaudreau said in an interview.
Tacodeli will open three restaurants in 2025, one each in its existing markets, he said. It’s currently planning a location in North Austin, though he declined to specify where.
“The business also will follow customers across the Austin metro, and it’s considering areas as far north as Georgetown and as far south as Kyle,” the ABJ reports.
“There’s definitely further pockets south and north that we could infill at least five to seven more restaurants in the coming years,” Gaudreau said.
