Taco Diablo / Lulu's Groundbreaking Ceremony May 1st

When Taco Diablo burned down last year it was terrible. We had grown to love everything about the restaurant and were looking forward to bringing more family and friends to the establishment. Thankfully the owners have decided to rebuild, and rebuild bigger and better. Along with the reintroduction of Taco Diablo, Lulu’s will also be brought back from the dead as well as a new venture called “Five & Dime”. The ground breaking ceremony for the new building at 1026 Davis St will be held Friday May 1st at 3PM. Full press release below.

Now as excited as I am for Taco Diablo to reopen so we can enjoy some delicious tacos and margaritas, I am now even more excited for this new “Five & Dime” section of the restaurant. A bar with old arcade games that opens into a rooftop deck with ping-pong tables?!??! Are you kidding me?!? The only downside is that it doesn’t look like any of this will be ready for this summer as the project is anticipated to take 9-months, but at least by around January of 2016 we should be able to feast on those delicious Taco Diablo tacos while we wait for summer.

Co-owners Marty Cless, Dan Kelch and Laura VanDorf invite you to attend a ground breaking ceremony at 1026 Davis Street, 3pm Friday, May 1st, 2015, as they begin the revival of two beloved Evanston restaurants.

Join them with Evanston’s Mayor Tisdahl, Aldermen and Downtown Evanston as they break ground and begin construction returning Taco Diablo and Lulu’s to downtown Evanston!

Taco Diablo, a Mexican restaurant, was destroyed in an early morning fire in December of 2013. When the fire occurred plans were already in place to shutter LuLu’s after a twenty two year run. Negotiations had just been completed to lease their LuLu’s space to the local small business operators who created Boltwood restaurant.

The fire was a major tragedy, but exhibiting entrepreneurial spirit, that tragedy was converted into opportunity. Having a strong and long standing commitment to the Evanston community Dan, Laura and Marty are rebuilding both Taco Diablo and an updated, revitalized LuLu’s.

The team will also introduce a new concept named Five & Dime on the building’s second floor. Five & Dime will house a bar with a small retro arcade room. In warm weather garage doors will open up onto a large outdoor rooftop dining terrace & beer garden. An outdoor bar, lounge seating and ping pong tables will provide a place for everyone to enjoy the summer sun.

The team will also plant and tend an organic, urban rooftop garden to grow & provide their restaurants with the freshest, just picked produce and herbs.

Construction on the new project is expected to last 9 months and should conclude in January of 2016. The new building at 1026 Davis St. will place both establishments side by side and will also provide an additional 4000 sq ft of retail space for lease on the ground floor.

The revival of these Evanston favorites will certainly help create an even greater destination district for the west side of Davis St. as they join the ranks of recent new comers, Smylie Brothers Brewing Company and Bottle & Bottega along with other long standing Evanston businesses like Wheel and Sprocket, Lemoi Hardware and Bennison’s Bakery.

The resurgence of Taco Diablo and Lulu’s will most certainly help further solidify Evanston as the dining capital of the North Shore! Help us welcome them back during the official groundbreaking on Friday, May 1^st at 3pm – 1026 Davis St.