Taco Del Mar opened on June 8, 1992 on Pier 57 in Seattle's historic waterfront district. The founders, brothers James and John Schmidt, created a name and logo that reflected the signature menu items—the Fish Tacos and Mission-Style Burritos.

James "discovered" fish tacos while studying at the University of California at San Diego in the late '80s. His inspiration for Taco Del Mar was the funky shoreline shacks that dotted the Southern California and Baja beaches, feeding big burritos and fish tacos to the hungry surfers and beach crowd. There was something about the food that was incredibly real, fresh, fast, flavorful and very filling.

Today, this company that started with $22,000 in startup capital (from friends and family) is franchising in over 75 DMA's and has stores throughout the United States and Canada. What was once a summer restaurant on the Pier, is now a major contender in the national franchising environment and poised to maintain it's growth for years to come. Taco Del Mar has become one of the top five national players in Mexican Fast Casual restaurants in terms of number of units.

We feature large, hand-rolled burritos and fish tacos, made to order with the freshest, healthiest ingredients, just the way you want them. Our service is fast, our people are enthusiastic, our store environments are inspired by beach culture and we're growing, growing, growing.

So grab your surfboard, let's head out and catch the next wave together. It's a real possibility when you hook up with one of America's hottest concepts, Taco Del Mar.

Q. What is the initial franchise fee?
A. The fee is $23,000 for your first franchise and $15,000 for all additional locations.

Q. What are the ongoing fees paid to the franchisor?
A. All franchisees pay a 6-percent royalty fee and a 1-percent advertising fee. These fees are paid weekly. Franchise cooperative advertising programs are also used when applicable.
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We will provide the following:

- A 100% protected territory for each franchise.
- Assistance with site selection, lease negotiation and new shop development.
- Twelve days of training at our training store, where you will learn basic operations, food preparation and service.
- A detailed inventory of all of the equipment necessary to operate a Taco Del Mar store, plus a list of suppliers.
- Assistance in developing the floor plan and layout for your store, including a list of all suppliers that you may use to construct your store.
- Periodic visits and updates to evaluate and assist with general operations, marketing and employee performance, ensuring compatibility with Taco Del Mar standards.
- We will provide you with all the equipment specifications and an approved list of equipment and contractors in your area.

Our goal at Taco Del Mar is to be the best, most innovative quick-serve food company on the planet. If there's a part of the planet you'd like to bring this enlightenment to, we look forward to hearing from you.