Yet another fast-casual semi-gourmet upstate taco chain appears to be spreading saucy tendrils into the 610 Loop — Austin-based Tacodeli, which announced intent to expand to Houston and Dallas last year, is now appearing in renderings and marketing plans of Lovett Commercial’s site at 1902 Washington Ave, across the street from upscale cocktail bar Julep and just west of cow-to-table butcher shop and steakhouse B&B Butchers. Tacodeli will be jostling against other taco invaders such as Torchy’s Tacos (also an Austin export), Fuzzy’s Taco’s (a Dallas chain currently working its way down through the north Houston ‘burbs to West Gray and Post Oak), and Velvet Taco (another Dallas chain) in the rush to claim territory in the local tacoscape, already thick with native Hous-Tex-Mex options.

A Lovett site plan for the property also shows a few other developments nestling in around Tacodeli, including a ramen shop, a brewpub, and a high-end barber:

***

The 1902 Washington complex, currently the site of several elaborate street-facing grafitti murals, previously housed The Drake — the chandeliered nightclub faced scrutiny in 2012 from Parroquia de San Esteban, a Catholic church located immediately west across White St., for allegedly generating the scandalous trash appearing on the church’s property, including beer bottles, condoms, dirty needles, and obscene fliers. The complex also later housed the Gatsby Lounge.

• Beloved Austin Mini-Chain Tacodeli Plans to Expand Across Texas [Eater Austin]
• Church-goers disgusted by club-goers refuse [ABC13]
• Previously on Swamplot: Fuzzy’s Tacos Will Snuggle into the Former Pesca, Tinto’s Spot Behind the River Oaks Theater; Torchy’s Tacos Taking Harold’s Old Corner Spot in the Heights

Rendering and site plan: Lovett Commercial