When we reported that the Capitol Hill Taco Time was closing down after more than 40 years on Madison, it was easy to assume the economic downturn was to blame. But as equipment moves into place to begin demolition of the shuttered fast food eatery, CHS has learned the story goes deeper than the recession and that we probably haven’t seen the last of Taco Time on Capitol Hill.
“Given what’s going on in Capitol Hill, there’s so much density it doesn’t make sense to have only a Taco Time,” company vice president Robby Tonkin told CHS. “It makes sense to have more than a Taco Time here.”
Tonkin, part of the fourth generation in his family to run the company, said that planning for a mixed-use development at the location started years ago. But in 2004, Taco Time’s plans hit a snag — required testing showed soil at 1420 E. Madison was contaminated. It’s a common problem on parts of the Hill with an industrial past. Tonkin says that solvents from an old metal shop at the location are possibly to blame but that, until there is further testing, they can’t be sure the contaminants are even coming from the property his family owns.
“We generally know how ‘bad’ it is. It’s not all that bad,” Tonkin tells us. “We’re not talking about a whole lot of contamination. In fact, there are some quarters when we’ve tested and gotten ‘non-detects.’ We’re primarily trying to determine whether the contamination source was on our site (e.g., the metal shop that existed there before this became a Taco Time in 1965) or whether the source is from another property.”
Tonkin said Taco Time has reported the problem to the Washington State Department of Ecology and has signed the property up for the Voluntary Cleanup program. Once the source is determined, Taco Time can figure out how to deal with it so that the property can be re-developed. Depending on the amount of contamination, solutions can range from capping the contaminated soil to costlier work like soil removal. But don’t expect things to happen quickly. Because the testing can take years, it might be a long time before any new construction can begin, Tonkin said.
In the meantime, the 1965 “Fast Food Lloyd Wright” structure has to go. The demolition will begin sometime in January. Removal of the building will allow for full testing of the property and, Tonkin hopes, open the way for the next steps in developing the property. “We’re hoping to develop the property where Taco Time would be part of the mixed-use,” Tonkin said. “We’d love to be in that area where we have deep roots.”
Justin – thanks for sharing our story. The only thing I’d add is that we thought about developing the property ourselves several years ago, but it will likely be a developer (not us), that ultimately red-develops the property when the time comes. We’d like to focus on serving top quality food and providing great service to our guests rather than moonlighting as developers. We’d welcome the opportunity to have a Taco Time in the redeveloped property, or somewhere else in the Capitol Hill neighborhood. My great grandfather started our company in the early 60’s, and this particular Taco Time was built in 1965 – one of the first in the area. Needless to say, we’ve been a part of the Capitol Hill neighborhood for a long time. We’re sorry that we won’t be there for our guests, but I invite our guests to give our Taco Time on Rainier Avenue a try. It may be a little further than some would like, but hopefully it’s worth the trek!
I love the building. It is a classic for its time and should be preserved. The lines, use of windows, etc are beautiful. And the fact that it was built in a period of drab and utility, makes it a keeper. I remember it as a landmark to get a great hamburger. Must the city continue with the Nickles’ urban plan of blocking views and creating caverns of darkness with no sunlight. Paris is beautiful because of the wide streets and heighth limiits. Even more ridiculous is what Seattle is doing. Views are extraordinary here, but being sold out to foreigners who never paid property taxes. We, who did (for years), are treated thanklessly and without the slightest consideration.
You’d better pony up the cash to buy this site quickly, then, friend.
… Blaming Nickels for growth, well why not. He was just the mayor.
Your post is a mix of angst and complaint. Seattle has changed during its reebuild and the clock does not run backwards. Sorry.
yeah! save the stand-alone fast food restaurant close to downtown so we can be more like Paris. Paris would never allow midrise mixed use buildings!
I personally liked the look of the building, and how it sat with the skyline as a backdrop. The angles created a forced depth perception that boasted mid-century kitsch. If not a Taco Time, it could have been something else. It’s unfortunate when items like these can’t be respected.
Nothing says “Paris” more than surface parking.
We’ll miss the friendly folks, decent fast food and easy parking. Our guilty pleasure.
Taco Time has always been a step above fast food. Better service, better ingredients, better food. I’m said to see them leaving Capitol Hill and I hope they return in the near future. I also liked supporting a NW family owned business instead of a national chain.