Zantigo
Parent KFC (1974–1986) | |
Zantigo is an American
Original Zantigo chain (1969–1987)
Zantigo was founded in 1969 as Zapata by Marno McDermott, who would later be the co-founder of another Mexican chain, Chi-Chi's. In 1974, McDermott sold Zapata to Heublein, owners at the time of KFC.[1][2] (Zapata's home Mexican food product line was renamed Ortega at this time.) In 1976, the chain of Zapata Mexican fast-food restaurants was renamed Zantigo.[2] The chain grew rapidly in this period. Television ads for Zantigo featured a Mexican-American narrator with an accent who ended the commercials with the tag line, "Zantigo – you'll be back, amigo."
In 1977, it was reported that average annual sales for a Zantigo location, $300,000, exceeded those for a Taco Bell store, $230,000,
In many cases, the existing Zantigo stores were in better locations or in better physical condition than nearby Taco Bell locations. So, most Zantigo locations were rebranded as Taco Bell and the nearby Taco Bell stores closed. This led indirectly to the Taco Bell chain adopting many of the distinctive
Zantigo had several unique menu items, including the Chilito, the Taco Burrito, and Chips 'n' Cheese. Of these, the Chilito was carried over by Taco Bell in former Zantigo markets and was promoted to a chain-wide item, later renamed "Chili-cheese Burrito".
New Zantigo chain (1996-present)
A new Zantigo chain, offering much of the original menu and under new ownership consisting of a former Zantigo manager and his brother, had opened three restaurants in Minnesota by 1996 and currently has four locations in Minnesota:[6] Bloomington, Fridley, St. Paul, and Woodbury. The newest restaurant, an intact former Zapata/Zantigo structure, is on West 7th Street and Davern in St. Paul.
References
- ^ "Corporate Report, Volume 9". Corporate Report. Ninth Fed Communications. 1978. p. 45. Retrieved 28 July 2013.
- ^ a b c Lazarus, George (May 25, 1977). "Colonel puts 'Zantigo' in vocabulary". Chicago Tribune. p. C9.
- New York Times. p. F3.
- San Jose Mercury News. October 2, 1986. p. 10C.
- ^ Tompor, Susan (September 30, 1986). "Taco Bell to swallow Zantigo's". The Courier-Journal. Louisville, Kentucky. p. 10 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Zantigo Locations