Out with the old, in with the new!
Every Taco Bell that’s been built since 2019 has been constructed in Taco Bell Corporate’s “Endeavor” design style. While Endeavor proved to be more modern than the mission-style buildings associated with the brand’s storied past, it’s high time for an upgrade.
That’s where Taco Bell Corporate’s latest design style, Kitchen X, comes in.
OPEN. MODERN. SLEEK.
Kitchen X’s look is in stark contrast to the traditional fast-food restaurant layouts of the past. Usually, dining rooms are in the front and kitchens are in the back, tucked away from guest view.
In Kitchen X layouts, these components will be completely rearranged. Upon entering one of these new Taco Bells, guests will find a dining room that runs the full length of the building. Additionally, thanks to more windows, the kitchen space of Kitchen X Taco Bells will be more open and visible to guests, both in the restaurant and drive-through. The entire experience will feel much more like fast-casual dining, and hopefully encourage customers to dine in more often!
Kitchen X will also include 24-hour lobby access and a streamlined layout for order pick-up. Zach Zelickson, our Vice President of Development, feels strongly that the new, bold style will help spearhead the next generation of fast food restaurant builds.
Kitchen X is a cleaner, more modern approach to fast-food restaurant design.
Zach Zelickson, VP of Development at Border Foods
BRINGING IT ALL TOGETHER
As our VP of Development, Zach is responsible for sourcing and purchasing the locations where Border Foods restaurants are built. He works with each municipality, city or town to get the necessary building approvals and permits.
Border’s Kitchen X locations — Rochester and Lakeville, MN — are both already home to Taco Bells, however, they were built according to earlier design styles. Given that the new, additional locations will now be built in the Kitchen X style, Zach will have to start the whole approval process over. He’ll work closely alongside key stakeholders from each town and Taco Bell Corporate to find design workarounds and material replacements whenever necessary. It’s quite the song and dance, but we’re confident he’ll find a way to make everyone happy!
COMING SOON
The Rochester and Lakeville restaurants are our first foray into the Kitchen X style. The new design isn’t approved nationally yet, but given our close great relationship with Taco Bell Corporate, they reached out to us to be the new style’s first “test.”
We couldn’t be more honored to be chosen, and we’re so excited to deliver Taco Bell’s very best to guests in 2026!
