---
title: "Rusty Taco Expands National Footprint with New Airport Locations"
url: https://burnaze.com/article/cb8ce5e8-c76e-4daa-8ba0-55007bbf929e
source: "Franchising.com"
original_url: https://www.franchising.com/news/20260909_rusty_taco_expands_national_footprint_with_new_airport_locations.html
category: "Mexican"
industry: "Restaurants"
segment: "Mexican"
topics: ["Development & multi-unit"]
published: 2026-09-09T12:00:00.000Z
modified: 2026-10-31T14:43:23.051Z
image: https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1568901346375-23c9450c58cd?w=1600&q=80&auto=format&fit=crop
---

# Rusty Taco Expands National Footprint with New Airport Locations

**TL;DR:** Rusty Taco is expanding its national footprint with new airport locations, including one at Norfolk International Airport and a second location at Washington Dulles International Airport. The brand is also growing its presence in non-traditional venues such as convenience stores, college campuses, and sports and entertainment venues.

*originally published in Franchising.com on 2026-09-09. [Read the original](https://www.franchising.com/news/20260909_rusty_taco_expands_national_footprint_with_new_airport_locations.html).*

## Story

The next phase of Rusty Taco’s airport growth begins with a new location at Norfolk International Airport toward the end of October, growing its presence among East Coast travelers. The opening reinforces airports as an important part of Rusty Taco’s national development strategy.

Rusty Taco’s airport momentum continues in November, when the brand opens its second location at Washington Dulles International Airport in Concourse E. The expansion builds on Rusty Taco’s first location, which opened in Concourse D in 2023, and its partnership with Affinity LLC, an experienced foodservice operator with a long-standing presence at Dulles. The addition of a second Rusty Taco location demonstrates its popularity and ability to grow in one of the country’s major travel hubs.

“Our growth in airports and other non-traditional venues is a strong example of how we can adapt to different environments while still delivering the same fresh menu guests know and love,” said David Gonzalez, VP of Development for Gala Capital Partners, parent company of Rusty Taco. “It’s also an opportunity to introduce our brand to travelers from across the country who might be trying us for the first time.”

Airports aren’t the only piece of Rusty Taco’s non-traditional growth strategy. From convenience stores and college campuses to sports and entertainment, the brand has an established track record of bringing its street-style tacos to high-traffic environments where guests are looking for convenience and quality.

Its partnership with Good 2 Go Eats, a convenience store chain with 75 locations, brought the first Rusty Taco C-store location to Ammon, Idaho in 2023, followed by agreements for eight additional locations. Three Denver area C-stores are open today, with four more set to open in early 2027. These locations run a reduced menu built around grab-and-go burritos for guests who want a quick, quality bite on the road.

The brand also has a presence at Salt River Fields, the spring training home of the Arizona Diamondbacks and Colorado Rockies, and served fans at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis for multiple seasons. This fall, Rusty Taco will add another non-traditional location to its portfolio with the opening of its first bowling alley spot at fellow Dallas-based brand Bowlski’s.

These locations demonstrate how Rusty Taco’s concept can adapt to different environments while maintaining the same made-to-order menu and guest experience. Its flexible operating model also supports four dayparts – breakfast, lunch, happy hour and dinner – creating opportunities to serve guests throughout the day and meet the needs of a variety of venues.

“Rusty Taco was built around a simple idea: serve fresh, flavorful ingredients in handcrafted street-style tacos, along with great hospitality,” said Gonzalez. “That same approach gives us the flexibility to bring Rusty Taco to places that look very different from a traditional restaurant, and we see significant opportunity to continue growing in new and unexpected places.”

## Entities

- Franchising.com (publication)
- QSR (sector)
- menu pricing (topic)
- Rusty Taco (company)
- airport expansion (topic)
- convenience stores (topic)
- Gala Capital Partners (company)
- non-traditional venues (topic)
- Washington Dulles International Airport (location)
- David Gonzalez (person)
- Norfolk International Airport (location)
- Bowlski's (company)

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Originally reported by Franchising.com (https://www.franchising.com/news/20260909_rusty_taco_expands_national_footprint_with_new_airport_locations.html). Summarized by Burnaze (https://burnaze.com/article/cb8ce5e8-c76e-4daa-8ba0-55007bbf929e).