News that CambridgeSide was going from run-of-the-mill food court to upscale food hall (called CanalSide Food + Drink) opening in October didn’t go over well with one group: The people who liked their branded fast food, including the treats at Taco Bell.
“When the Taco Bell at the CambridgeSide Galleria closed, a part of me died,” is the gentler kind of comment (via Reddit) that followed the Jan. 30 closing of the mall area for renovations. There were harsh condemnations as well (“Fuck this ‘food hall.’ I want Taco Bell back,” also via Reddit).
Roughly a year later, a Taco Bell is due back at 85 First St., across the street from CambridgeSide, with licensing sought to stay open until 2 a.m. Sundays through Thursdays and until 3 a.m. on weekends – a plus for the legendary late-night and postpartying food runs the chain is known for. (Owner GF Enterprise of Framingham was listed to appear Tuesday before the License Commission but asked to move the hearing to Feb. 12, the commission said.)
Until the opening on First Street, there continues to be no Taco Bell for Cambridge or Somerville – and the area once had three. In addition to the CambridgeSide location, there was one at 2072 Massachusetts Ave., North Cambridge – a combo KFC/Taco Bell that closed in 2007 to make way for the Bangladeshi, Indian and Pakistani restaurant Darul Kabab in 2011; and one at 168 Hampshire St., Inman Square, which closed in 2011. After years as a dry cleaner under new apartments, that location become Brooklyn Bagel Factory in 2023.
Taco Bell’s return to the area is no coincidence: GF Enterprise reached out to First Street Corridor developer Urban Spaces for another East Cambridge location after mall owner New England Properties cleared out the food court for its revamp.
A spokesperson for Urban Spaces said Bank of America also reached out to find a new location after changes at the mall.
Messages were left with GF Enterprise and Paul Ognibene of Urban Spaces for more information, including an opening date.
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I for one am fucking happy Taco Bell is returning. Or maybe it is the profanity. Fucked if I know. All I know is George Carlin is busting one right now.
When I was in college Taco Bell was the only fast food place that (probably unintentionally) served vegetarian food for cheap. I don’t eat there anymore but I’m glad there is one in town.