Popular Tex-Mex chain Torchy’s Tacos to open in St. Petersburg
By Breanne Williams
Tampa Bay Business Journal
Published: Aug 25, 2022

Torchy’s Tacos, a rapidly expanding Tex-Mex chain with a cult following, is taking over the Pollo Tropical location at Tyrone Square Mall.

Documents filed with the city of St. Petersburg show Torchy’s plans to renovate the 3,650-square-foot building at 2314 Tyrone Blvd. Florida is part of Torchy’s multistate expansion, reports the Austin Business Journal, a sister news organization.

The former Pollo location is freestanding along Tyrone Boulevard. It is part of the portion of the mall property owned by Seritage Growth Properties, which redeveloped the mall’s Sears box in 2017.

A spokesman for Torchy’s told the Tampa Bay Business Journal that the company’s upcoming St. Pete location is tentatively set to open in December, and the site is in the “early stages of renovation.”

An Altamonte Springs location is also in the works.

Torchy’s Tacos launched in 2006 as a food trailer in Austin, Texas, and quickly gained a loyal following from Austin foodies. In December 2021, it opened its 100th store.

The menu includes both breakfast, lunch and dinner tacos. Torchy’s signature item is the Trailer Park — a taco with fried chicken, green chilis and cheddar jack cheese. Diners can order it “trashy,” which removes lettuce and adds queso.

Other menu items include green chili queso, salsa and guacamole, churros, street corn and Mexican rice. Torchy’s is also known for its margaritas, Torchy’s Tini, sangria and frozen drinks.

The company received approximately $400 million in private equity funding in November 2020 as Torchy’s prepared to focus on a nationwide expansion.