--- title: "Fuzzy’s Taco Shop Welcomes Gilbert’s Taco Lovers to Their New, Baja-Style Addiction" url: https://burnaze.com/article/9cda2239-6799-4c38-acdc-c2b40c3ad2bc source: "1851 Franchise" original_url: https://1851franchise.com/fuzzys-taco-shop-welcomes-gilberts-taco-lovers-to-their-new-baja-style-addiction-2711987 category: "Mexican" industry: "Restaurants" segment: "Mexican" published: 2020-01-06T22:17:11.000Z modified: 2026-11-01T02:30:44.487Z image: https://newimage.1851franchise.com/cdn-cgi/image/quality=85,format=webp,width=1280,height=720/story/featureImage/24b14392b0d349783af6aadcb92660789290.jpg --- # Fuzzy’s Taco Shop Welcomes Gilbert’s Taco Lovers to Their New, Baja-Style Addiction **TL;DR:** Fuzzy's Taco Shop has opened a new location in Gilbert, Arizona, with fan-turned-franchisee Jeff York as the owner. The brand has a cult-like following and has grown to nearly 150 locations across the United States through organic, word-of-mouth growth within the franchise community. *originally published in 1851 Franchise on 2020-01-06. [Read the original](https://1851franchise.com/fuzzys-taco-shop-welcomes-gilberts-taco-lovers-to-their-new-baja-style-addiction-2711987).* ## Story **GILBERT, Ariz. —** **Fuzzy’s Taco Shop****, the neighborhood restaurant that has exploded onto the fast casual scene with a cult-like following, unbeatable value, chill vibes and seriously addictive food, opened a new location in Gilbert, Arizona on December 16. The latest addition to Fuzzy’s Taco Shop’s butt-kickin’ franchise family, located at 2050 East Williams Field Road, is fan-turned-franchisee Jeff York’s second Arizona Fuzzy’s Taco Shop location.** **York’s history with the brand started with a visit to a Denton, Texas, location where he met the company’s president Mel Knight. At the time, York was working for a steakhouse brand and went to the restaurant with some colleagues. He ended up talking with Knight, and loving the affordable and crave-worthy food along with the attentive customer service.** **“I was hooked on the brand from my very first Fuzzy’s Taco Shop experience,” said York. “What I loved about it was the quality, value-driven food, the fun atmosphere. When I looked into franchising with the brand, I was excited that it was a new concept that was reasonably priced. I liked getting in on the ground level and they listened to my ideas.”** **After cutting his teeth in franchising with other concepts, York decided to invest in his love for Fuzzy’s Taco Shop and in 2016 took over ownership of an existing restaurant in Tempe, Arizona. York and his family truly joined the Fuzzy’s Taco Shop family and became close with the Knights. York’s daughter even lived with Knight’s daughter while she was going through training, and the daughters became and have remained best friends.** **“Fuzzy’s Taco Shop offers an enjoyable atmosphere and an ambiance where everyone feels comfortable. Whether you’re coming for a meal with your family or having some beers while watching the game, everyone can enjoy themselves here,” said York. “Gilbert is full of young families who are in need of a go-to weekend destination with an awesome, laid-back atmosphere and affordable, quality food options—Fuzzy’s Taco Shop fits the bill.”** **From tacos and salads to nachos and burritos to quesadillas, enchiladas and fajitas (whew!), Fuzzy’s menu rolls deep, including a stellar kids’ menu. Fuzzy’s also has a clutch bar with beer and margaritas served in big, frosty schooners—setting the franchise up as a full-experience hang zone on the weekends. Most other taco places are grab-and-go, but at Fuzzy’s, you can chill for the long haul.** **“We have created this environment at Fuzzy’s where you can come in a suit, come in shorts, come however you are,” said Knight. “You can bring kids that run around. Mom can get a margarita, dad can get a cold beer, and the whole family can get a great meal for under $30. Everybody’s happy.”** **“At Fuzzy’s, our fans don’t just buy tacos, they buy franchises,” said Michael Mabry, Chief Development Officer of Fuzzy’s Taco Shop. “With years of experience, Jeff York has the expertise and passion needed to ensure that the Gilbert location is a massive success. Our fresh and craveable options create hardcore fans who never forget their first Fuzzy’s Taco Shop experience and end up wanting to own a restaurant of their own. Many franchisees, like Jeff, were drawn to the brand as fans first and have stories about ‘their’ Fuzzy’s before they actually opened their own Fuzzy’s. In fact, franchise growth up to this point has come solely through the brand’s cult-like following. Fear not: Fuzzy’s Taco Shop isn’t a cult, but our food is so good, we could be.” **Fuzzy’s Taco Shop owns the fast casual Mexican food category in every sense. In fact, the brand was named Nation’s Restaurant News’ No. 10 “Fastest Growing Chains” of 2018. With a best-in-class franchise offering, the unapologetic brand has captured the attention of multi-unit and multi-brand operators who are quickly scooping up territory claims. Since starting, Fuzzy’s has opened nearly 150 restaurants across the United States through completely organic, word-of-mouth growth within the franchise community. Now THAT is a committed fan base!** **Founded in 2003 near the Texas Christian University campus in Fort Worth, Fuzzy’s Taco Shop® is a fast casual restaurant serving Mexican favorites with a splash of Baja. The laid-back atmosphere pairs perfectly with signature Baja-style tacos, famous chips and queso and icy-cold beverages always served at a chill price. With nearly 150 corporate- and franchise-owned locations in 17 states, Fuzzy’s Taco Shop was named Nation’s Restaurant News’ #10 “Fastest Growing Chains” of 2018, was included on Franchise Business Review’s “Top Franchises” list in 2017, and was one of QSR magazine’s Top 6 “Best Franchise Deals by Franchisee Satisfaction” in 2016.** ## Entities - 1851 Franchise (publication) - Restaurants (sector) - franchise growth (topic) - location expansion (topic) - fast casual (topic) - Fuzzy's Taco Shop (company) - Michael Mabry (person) - mexican food (topic) - Gilbert, Arizona (location) --- Originally reported by 1851 Franchise (https://1851franchise.com/fuzzys-taco-shop-welcomes-gilberts-taco-lovers-to-their-new-baja-style-addiction-2711987). Summarized by Burnaze (https://burnaze.com/article/9cda2239-6799-4c38-acdc-c2b40c3ad2bc).