Taco Tuesdays come to Dover with opening of Taco John's fast food restaurant

It's not every day that folks are willing to line up for hours to dine on fast food.

But then, it's also not every day that a new fast food joint opens its doors in downtown Dover.

Tuesday's grand opening of the new Taco John's restaurant on Donelson Parkway in Dover was that day. Dozens lined up to chow down on Taco John's specialties as the Meat & Potato Burrito, Crispy Tacos made with shells fried fresh daily, and Potato Olés, which are round bites of crunchy potatoes sprinkled with signature spices.

"I don't think we've seen this sort of excitement since McDonald's opened in 2002," said the restaurant's co-owner David Cheatham.

Cheatham, who ran a dentistry practice until four years ago, said when the Taco John's franchise expressed interest in the commercial property he'd acquired, he felt it would be a great fit for Dover.

"The food is really good. I couldn't recommend something that I didn't believe in," said Cheatham, who opened the store with his franchise partners Lynn and Fulton Combs.

He said since the town already had its fair share of burger chains and pizza places, they thought it made sense to open a taco chain in Dover.

So, after two years of planning, construction and the hiring of 42 employees to cover three shifts, the third of only three Taco John's in Tennessee opened its' doors at 10 am Tuesday to crowds of customers, making it truly "Taco Tuesday" in Dover.

"We wanted something different," said Cheatham. "There's a lot of enthusiasm out there for this."

Taco lovers who'd lined up Tuesday to get their taco fix seemed to agree.

"It's all-around fresh and good," said Terri Bowers of Dover, who brought her granddaughter Alexia there to grab lunch on opening day.

Steve Lazenby, director of construction for Taco John's corporate office, said this store is the chain's 389th franchise location for the chain. He said their focus now is slowly and deliberately opening up new stores across the southeast, where there is far less competition from other taco chains.

"We want to slowly grow out because people know us," said Lazenby, who noted this year the chain is celebrating their 50th anniversary in business. 

Cheatham said he believes customers will like what Taco John's has to offer.

"I've never heard of anyone being disappointed," he said, citing the Grilled Chicken Burrito as his own personal favorite.

Customers said they're happy to have this new fast food option in Dover. And for some, like Bowers, the food there easily beats the competition.

"It's better than Taco Bell," said Bowers.

For more

Hours: 7 a.m.-10 p.m., Monday-Friday, every day except Thanksgiving and Christmas

Location: 415 Donelson Parkway, Dover

Phone: 800-854-0819

Reach Jennifer Babich at 931-245-0742 or by email at jbabich@gannett.com. To support her work, consider signing up for a digital subscription at TheLeafChronicle.com.