Nestled in a story about Seattle street food that aired Monday on KUOW was this tidbit: Rancho Bravo will open two more taco trucks. We’d known that West Seattle expected a Rancho Bravo, but hadn’t been aware of the second truck, which will open this week in North Seattle. Those additions will double the size of owner Freddy Rivas’ taco empire, which began with a truck in the Winchell’s parking lot at 211 NE 45th St. and expanded to a restaurant space at 1001 E. Pine St in Capitol Hill.
We got in touch with Rivas, who told us that his third Rancho Bravo will open tomorrow or Friday at 105th and Greenwood Ave. The small trailer that used to be in Wallingford will grace the new North Seattle location, and will have the same menu.
There’s a larger trailer in the Wallingford parking lot waiting to go to West Seattle, when that location opens in the not-too-distant future (Rivas couldn’t estimate exactly when that would be; it’s been a long time in the planning).
Here’s an excerpt from the KUOW story:
One of Seattle’s most popular street food vendors is the Rancho Bravo Taco Truck in Wallingford. The owner is Freddy Rivas…
Rivas: “I think it’s great to make it possible for somebody to open up a stand just so long as they’re observing the requirements and code and for the sake of the public. What it boils down to is that people, especially in Seattle, they want good quality food, and if you can deliver it, then there’s a place for you.”
Rivas says the city’s current health code does a good job of keeping food safe for all vendors. Those rules are separate from Gary Johnson’s proposal. He’s focused on making Seattle’s street life more friendly, culturally diverse and affordable.
You can read or hear the rest of the story on the KUOW site.
Go Freddie! Maybe you could do something with the old Winchell's building that languishes next to your Wallingford outlet? If you don't want to fully use it, surely there exists a subtenant who could add some life to that corner and benefit your business at the same time.