Mr. Taco owner says restaurant is 'getting rebooted,' explains why it has been closed

LANSING — The owner of one of the most talked about restaurants in the city said Friday he wants to clear the air. 

Bill Bonofiglo, owner of Mr. Taco, sent the State Journal a series of text messages Friday afternoon emphasizing that his business won't close its doors for good. 

Despite not being open for 10 days, Bonofiglo said he's working hard to add more staff and won't dignify people who criticize him with a response.

"Mr. Taco will reopen," Bonofiglo said. "We love our customers. This business is getting rebooted."

In Bonofiglo's text message, he didn't specify when the restaurant at 3124 S. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. will reopen.

"We will open as soon as we can," he said. 

Bonofiglo also said "there is more to this story than you realize." 

"We SUPER appreciate all the kind words, support, friendship, etc. we get from honest, fun patrons every time we are open," Bonofiglo said. "It's really cool.

"Ironically, it is me personally who has lost the most, yet my motive/intent is focused on serving our customers. I put myself last." 

Bonofiglo stressed "there's a tremendous amount of opportunity here."

Bonofiglo also said he's looking for a store manager and more crew to "take Mr. Taco into increased hours, catering and beyond." 

Mr. Taco has been open sporadically since March 23, 2018.  

Bonofiglo is the son of one of Mr. Taco's founders, Eugene Bonofiglo. Mark Eytcheson and Paul Coscarelli also founded the local restaurant chain. 

The first Mr. Taco started in Lansing in 1967 on Logan Street. There were four Greater Lansing locations. The last Mr. Taco restaurant in the area closed about nine years ago.

Fans of Mr. Taco have been praising and criticizing Bonofiglo since Mr. Taco closed Aug. 6. A closed Mr. Taco Facebook group, as of 4 p.m. Friday, had more than 13,000 members. 

Bonofiglo may be funding the entire business by himself.

The Lansing Economic Development Corporation's board of directors approved in January 2018 a $15,000 microloan to support the business. 

But Bonofiglo chose not to accept it. 

RELATED:

A look back at the day in 2018 when Mr. Taco reopened to much fanfare

Mr. Taco sign reinstalled, creates comeback optimism 

Eric Lacy is a reporter for the Lansing State Journal. Contact him at 517-377-1206 or elacy@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @EricLacy.

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