Talkin’ Tacos is building-out in Town Center to add its second Jacksonville area restaurant.
The South Florida-based fast-casual Mexican restaurant opened its first franchise location Aug. 4 in Jacksonville Beach.
The city issued a permit Aug. 18 for Jacksonville-based Honest Construction Inc. to build-out 1,812 square feet of space for Talkin’ Tacos at 4853 Big Island Drive, No. 9, in Town Center Plaza at a cost of $200,000. Plans show inside and patio seating.
Jacksonville-based Ashco Inc. owns the fully leased building, whose tenants are Modani Furniture, Amara Medical Spa, Mayday Ice Cream, DOS Coffee and Talkin’ Tacos.
Ashco Inc. converted the former furniture store into the multitenant building.
Ashcenter at St. Johns LLC paid almost $2.3 million for the 13,200-square-foot former Thomasville store on 1.27 acres near The Markets at Town Center in August 2020.
Ashco is led by president Edward Ashurian, who manages the LLC that bought the property.
The Jacksonville Beach restaurant is at 1300 Beach Blvd. in Beach Plaza. It is next to Southern Swells Brewing Company and is owned by Jacksonville-based Ash Properties.
The 2,250-square-foot space offers bar and patio dining. The restaurant is open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.
The menu includes Birria Tacos, Birria Ramen, Southwest Chicken Tacos, Birria Pizza and Street Corn in a Cup.
Featured sweets are loaded Churros, Tajin & Chamoy gummies and homemade specialty beverages such as lemonades, horchatas and mangonadas.
“There’s a huge void for a unique Mexican restaurant that not only infuses a Miami vibe into the experience, but the service is also quick without compromising on quality. There’s nothing like us in the area and we can’t wait to share our love for tacos with the community,” said Jason Malih, Talkin’ Tacos franchisee, in a news release announcing the first location opening.
The Beef Birria is braised for 12 hours before completing the cooking process and is a menu favorite, the release said.
The Jacksonville Beach location is owned and operated by Malih and his cousin Elias Ishak.
They said in the release they plan to open the second franchise location by late 2023 in Town Center.
Malih and Ishak operate several smoke shops and JC’s Fresh Seafood restaurants in the Jacksonville area.
Talkin’ Tacos began in 2020 as a food truck in the Miami area and opened its first brick-and-mortar restaurant in 2021. There are three South Florida locations.