Taco Temple is putting the finishing touches on its new San Luis Obispo restaurant.
The pastor of nearby Mountainbrook Church blessed the restaurant Wednesday morning before staff served their first customers – homeless community members from the 40 Prado shelter.
The new restaurant is located in what used to be Margie’s Diner off Calle Joaquin and before that, a Howard Johnson hotel.
The new owners decided to keep some of the original elements of the building.
“We wanted to keep some of the charm and the character of the building,” said Patrick Lynch, Taco Temple General Manager. “This is a historical building, and you know, we peeled back some layers but decided we wanted to keep some of the original. The lamps at the tables are several artifacts that you’ll find throughout the building that date back 60 years, plus.”
Taco Temple commissioned a local artist to paint a mural in the restaurant depicting the area from San Luis Obispo to Morro Bay, where the original restaurant is located.
The California fusion restaurant hasn’t set a definite grand opening date yet but owners say it will be sometime next week.
Taco Temple will be employing about 60 people.
