Irvine-based Taco Bell Corp. said a franchisee in Minnesota expects to begin construction on a 3,000-square-foot restaurant marking a new design the chain’s calling Taco Bell Defy.
The Brooklyn Park location operated by Border Foods, one of Taco Bell’s largest U.S. franchisees, is expected to be completed next summer. The location will be two stories with four drive-thru lanes. Three of those lanes will be for mobile or third-party delivery. Drivers will pull up to scan a QR code to check in.
The restaurant was created with Minneapolis design firm Vertical Works Inc.
“Partnering with our franchisees to test new concepts is a huge unlock of learning for us. What we learn from the test of this new Defy concept may help shape future Taco Bell restaurants,” Taco Bell President and Global COO Mike Grams said in a statement.
The Defy design follows last year’s reveal of the Taco Bell Go Mobile concept, which focused on expediting digital orders. Taco bell also has a Cantina concept that was created in 2015 with an open kitchen design.
