The Taco Stand on 670 N Milledge Ave has been newly renovated to welcome its new owner and operator, Mark Opel. The Taco Stand has been in Athens since 1977 with co-Owners Randle Roberts and the late Phil Stangle, and has recently been taken up by Mark Opel, the Owner-Operator of a vintage furniture store, Starlite Showroom. “I give Randle Roberts all the credit in the world for (working diligently) for 40+ years to keep the place running and (I) am honored to be able to take the reins from him and let him enjoy his retirement,” Opel said. Photo courtesy of Mark Opel
The Taco Stand on 670 N Milledge Ave, a local Athens restaurant, is under the new partial ownership of Mark Opel, the Owner-Operator of local vintage shop Starlite Showroom.
Opel became co-owner along with the previous co-owner, Phil Stangle’s family, as of Jan. 1 and has made numerous changes while making an effort to keep the spirit of The Taco Stand alive.
The Taco Stand has been a part of Athens since 1977 and has been updated with improvements in sanitation and design. According to Athens resident and Clarke Central High School class of 2007 alumna Lucy Ralston, The Taco Stand satisfies a sense of continuity within the Athens community.
“One of the things about growing up in (Athens) is (that) it’s a town where you’re not expected to stay because so many people and so many things come and go. It can make it challenging when the town that you’re in is so alive and so full of change,” Ralston said. “Clearly, (The Taco Stand) looks great and I’m glad that the management kept the soul of the restaurant intact while also probably improving their health score tremendously.”
According to the Clarke County School District Coordinator and Behavior Support Specialist David Brown, The Taco Stand works best within Athens as a local business run by people who are in close proximity to the ins and outs of the community.
“I know there are great people all around the state, country (and) world, but it’s nice when (Athenians) can help continue to build Athens and renovate Athens and develop Athens because there’s something about knowing somebody’s history (that helps) you understand them a little bit better,”
— David Brown,
CCSD District Coordinator and Behavior Support Specialist
“I’m really pleased to see (Opel) connected with Athens. I know there are great people all around the state, country (and) world, but it’s nice when (Athenians) can help continue to build Athens and renovate Athens and develop Athens because there’s something about knowing somebody’s history (that helps) you understand them a little bit better,” Brown said.
The Taco Stand had a unique and special place in her heart since she worked there to long-time Athens community member and previous employee of The Taco Stand Frances Tucker Austin.
“(The) Taco Stand was a fun place to work because of everybody who worked in the region,” Austin said. “We were all having similar experiences, parallel to each other, so that was really fun.”
According to CCHS Family Engagement and Academic Support Specialist Christian Barner, the restaurant is a long-standing establishment within the Athens community, which is why Barner hopes that The Taco Stand’s core stays the same.
“Although part of the appeal of the Taco Stand is that it’s kind of a scuzzy place, at the same time, it’d be nice if it was cleaner too, but I just hope they don’t mess with the food,” Barner said. “They can change the way the place looks, the cups, the setup of the tables, but I would not want them to mess with the food.”
Opel says Due to the food’s popularity, he didn’t change any of the classic dishes and the way they are prepared.
“We have (and will continue to) make aesthetic improvements to the building and the property,” Opel said. “As far as the menu, we aren’t messing with it at all with the original recipes, so it’ll be the same great food and tastes as always.”
According to Reign Streiter, former CCHS teacher and now prominent real estate agent who has been going to The Taco Stand since 1988, the Taco Stand is and will continue to be a staple within Athens as a melting pot of backgrounds or from something as simple as the grease-stained food.
“It was good cheap food, but for whatever reason, (The) Taco Stand outlasted (other local restaurants),” Streiter said. “There must be some magic in the grease.”
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