Exploring Inside an Abandoned Retro Style Taco Bell!!

Taco Bell
Today we explore this abandoned Taco Bell that closed in 2015!! There are reports that the Taco Bell was forced to close due to repeated health violations although I was not able to confirm or deny this. Since then there was also an online petition to bring Taco Bell back to the community which had received a whopping 289 signatures but there has still not been a replacement in the area. This Taco Bell along with the restaurant next door and a small adjacent plaza were demolished just recently, I suspect that condos will be built in the empty lot at some point in the near future!!
Let's start from the beginning, from what I have heard there used to be a Beaver Lumber at this corner intersection which closed down and was demolished in 1984.
I'm not sure when the plaza and the two restaurants were built but the has a very 80s or 90s architectural style to it, so I would guess not long after the Beaver Lumber was built.
According to a Hamilton Spectator article from 2013 the first Lick's opened as an Ice Cream parlour in Downtown Oakville, which is interesting since this former Lick's which I visited was also in Oakville, just in a different location. In 1984 the store was becoming a chain with many more restaurants opening between then and 2009 and at its peak, Lick's Homeburgers had 30 locations throughout Southern Ontario. The company began to suffer after the 2008 financial crisis at the same time receiving growing competition from gourmet burger chains such as The Works. In the 2000s they also switched from serving fresh burgers to a more generic frozen style burger that can still be found in stores today. Several stores began closing starting in 2012 and by 2017 there were only two locations remaining, on in Parry Sound and another in Toronto. I looked at some of the reviews from these Lick's restaurants and they were not by any mean s favourable, receiving an average of 2.5/5 stars. My own experience having eaten at the Parry Sound location as recently as a year or two ago is not dissimilar to this. After this Lick's location closed down sometime between 2011 and 2014 it became another chain restaurant known as Hwy 55 Burgers Shakes & Fries, this is an American owned chain restaurant and operated until May of 2016. Then in July of 2016 Gazebo Burgers & Grill opened, it's weird because looking through their Facebook page it seems as thought when they first opened they had the same design as the former restaurant but with different branding and a slightly different menu. I am not sure if Gazebo bought all of the decor and furniture from the Hwy 55 owner when they opened or if it was the same owner the whole time. The restaurant had a 1950s theme with pink and teal colours and 50's decor throughout! Then in October 2019 they reopened the restaurant with a slightly updated look, going for a slightly more modern look (as seen in the photos) mixed with the same 50s decor from before. On November 1st the restaurant closed down with plans to reopen at a later date.
At the end of June 2021 the plaza, the Taco Bell and Gazebo buildings were torn down to allow for road widening at the intersection.
If you are interested, you can see what Gazebo Burgers & Grill used to look like on their Facebook page:
/ gazeboburgers
Also, don't forget to check out the bloopers at the end of the video!!
Follow me:
/ james.hackland
/ 0staticspaces0
Intro music:
Michett - Flatline
/ michett
michett.bandca...
CC BY: creativecommon...
Source: freemusicarchi...
Other music:
Hackerblinks - Eighth
CC BY: creativecommon...
Source: freemusicarchi...
/ hackerblinks
Other music:
Patrick Patrikios - Stairway
/ @patrickpatrikios2050

[@tech-bore8839]

Feels like the world lost something once restaurants and stores moved away from vibrant colors/designs into flat, bland designs. That old Taco Bell aesthetic feels more welcoming than what we've got now.

[@StaticSpaces]

I completely agree, it had a more casual feel too which is what you expect when going to a fast food restaurant. These days you walk into one and it looks more like a full service restaurant and the prices reflect that too! Thanks for the comment!!

[@TokyoACR]

Just look at the vibrant colors in this place! Everything back in the 90s was so colorful!

[@StaticSpaces]

It really was, the memories of childhood came flooding back while visiting. Thanks for the comment!!

[@dayoldbread1696]

Weirdly enough there’s a Taco Bell that still looks exactly like this one near me and is still open! Even the chairs and kitchen area look the same as this one (although I’m sure the kitchen equipment isn’t the same). Literally hasn’t been updated since the 90s. It’s in hesperia, California. We also have a 90s Burger King in apple valley, and a very old rite aid in Victorville (sadly the old rite aid closed a few months ago)

[@StaticSpaces]

That's pretty cool, especially the burger king. A few people have mentioned their taco bell still looks like this

[@NoWastedCalories]

People weren’t staring in their phones back then

[@StaticSpaces]

You are absolutely right about that (he says while staring at his phone). 😂 Thanks for the comment!!

[@gloriab.2191]

Thank you for the Memories I wish they would have kept that Taco Bell just because of the vintage look

[@StaticSpaces]

Me too, i don't eat Taco Bell but i would probably make an exception just to visit a place like that. Thanks for the comment!!

[@chrismayer3919]

HA! I knew he was gonna ‘order’ something at the beginning 😝

[@StaticSpaces]

Glad you enjoyed the intro and thanks very much for your comment!!

[@horacecomegna335]

The food probably tastes better from that abandoned Taco Bell then it does from Taco Bell’s that are open and still doing business! 🤣🤣🤣

[@StaticSpaces]

I haven't eaten at a Taco Bell in 20 years probably! Lol I used to love it back then though. Thanks very much for your comment!!

[@---BAM---]

This brought me back 21 years ago at age 13. Man I feel old. Haha I probably haven't eaten it since then but it really feels like a blast from the past.

[@StaticSpaces]

Haha cool, it's probably been 20 years since I last ate there too. Thanks for watching!

[@BigHeadedLoser]

Bajablast from the past

[@drawingwithezra4212]

This comment made me realize I was also 13 21 years ago 😭👵🏻

[@StaticSpaces]

Well, you are younger than i am then! Lol

[@jamielauro2623]

Back when it was cool looking on the inside!!!

[@StaticSpaces]

Ya, i mean honestly i don't even have anything to compare it to really. I haven't been to one them in years. Thanks very much for the comment!!

[@joeycollier6367]

There’s still one in Huntsville AL open daily that hasn’t been remodeled and looks exactly like this and it’s definitely interesting to walk into

[@StaticSpaces]

I can imagine, that would almost make me want to start eating there again

[@cpet8018]

That TB brought be back to being a kid in the late 90s/early 2000s. Definitely got a new subscriber, thanks from Utah!

[@StaticSpaces]

Same here! Thanks a lot for the sub!!

[@erinbricker-urbanhistorian5803]

C. Peterson... same here! 👍🙂👋

[@scottdunn4506]

Nice Taco Bell I like Taco Bell you can get a lot for your money I enjoy your videos

[@StaticSpaces]

I used to love Taco Bell as well but i haven't been there in years! Glad you are enjoying them and thanks for the comment!!

[@Beth9228]

I remembered going to a Taco Bell liked this one in the late 90’s. It is now a Jimmy John’s. I had a craving for Taco Bell in the early 2000’s. It closed for a long time before Jimmy John’s remodeled it.

[@StaticSpaces]

Ya, i don't think there are too many Taco Bells of this vintage left these days. Thanks for the comment!!

[@dayoldbread1696]

@@StaticSpaces awesome video! Also there’s a Taco Bell near me that looks exactly like this one and hasn’t been updated since the 90s. It’s still open too! For anyone curious, this is in hesperia California

[@sexyshit84]

Hahaha love the intro. Soft Tacos are my favorites along with a Fries Supreme. Hahaha this should have been uploaded on Tuesday to Celebrate Taco Tuesday. Too bad bathroom wasnt big and clean enough to do a toilet shot. I remember the Taco Bell(s) in my area. So Nostalgic. Awesome video. Hugs from Alberta.

[@StaticSpaces]

Thanks a lot Kimmy, glad you liked it! I honestly didn't even know about taco Tuesday, it's been a long time since i have eaten at one of these before!

[@fawnfredenburg5361]

Hi James 👋 This Taco Bell is nice and clean and it’s not vandalize by idiots too 😊Another outstanding video James 😎 Great find too 👍

[@StaticSpaces]

This is still one of my most exciting explores in recent memory and I'm glad it was untouched. Thanks for the comment!!

[@fawnfredenburg5361]

You are welcome James 😎

[@invisi-bullexploration2374]

I went into one in Ohio recently. I wanted to return but some bag lady lives in there now. XD

[@StaticSpaces]

Ya, that sort of thing happens unfortunately. Thanks very much for your comment!!

[@gustavoceballos5327]

During the 80’s to 90’s the exterior uses red yellow and green colors while the interior uses turquoise purple and pink colors

[@StaticSpaces]

Ya, this is an older style of design for sure and that's what made it so special to me. Thanks for the comment!!

[@mikeangelcortez8845]

how in the world the dead squirrel got in there and how it die?

[@StaticSpaces]

No idea how it got in there

[@jenjosh]

Man I'm gettin nostalgia!!

[@StaticSpaces]

Glad you enjoyed it and thanks for the comment!!

[@LisaClementRoy]

That kitchen in the second location “Swarma?” was a fire hazard waiting to happen with all that grease stains on the wall, maybe its a good thing it closed down when it did

[@StaticSpaces]

Ya, I'm not sure how greasy those things usually get before they are cleaned but it did seem excessive. Yes it was shawarma/burger place, they kind of did a little bit of everything. Thank you very much for the comment Lisa!!

[@alexisa6028]

I so loved those spinny chairs! Takes me back to fiesta fries (yes fiesta fries not potatoes and not nacho fries) oh gosh and Choco tacos

[@StaticSpaces]

Yes, the spinny chairs were the best, i think most fast food places used to have those in the 80s, i miss them. I don't remember fiesta fries, but vaguely Choco tacos, the may have been after my time. I used to get the basics like regular tacos or burritos. Thanks for the comment!!

[@matthewsmith2964]

Previously a licks burger i believe for the second spot.

[@StaticSpaces]

Ya, i can't believe i didn't realise until after i started researching the place, it's pretty obvious with those clouted tiles in the back room. Thanks!!

[@LifeOfDeeG]

Yess bro killed that intro

[@StaticSpaces]

Thank you!!

[@terrystrahl6006]

The big box with the yellow circle is a timer, probably timed to turn the outside lights on and off. An interesting and cool place to see..

[@StaticSpaces]

Ah ya, that makes sense, someone else mentioned it too. At the time i thought it was too big to be a timer. Agreed, i was so excited to get into this one before it was demolished!

[@user-fr1xn3oe6s]

They didn't have fries back then

[@StaticSpaces]

I think they only had them in certain areas, at least I remember getting fries at Taco Bell in the early 2000s. Also, they may have used the fryers for the cinnamon twists, maybe that was a regional thing too. Thanks very much for your comment!!

[@mikeangelcortez8845]

8:58 what are those black rod shape .things around the dead squirrel body

[@StaticSpaces]

Not too sure but maybe someone else will know. Thanks very much for your comments!!

[@mikeangelcortez8845]

@@StaticSpaces i think there were dead maggots. nice video my friend of filming an abandoned Taco Bell and its really sad for that poor little squirrel i wonder how he ended up inside taco bell restaurant. where was this abandoned taco bell location just curious. i subscribed to your channel.

[@StaticSpaces]

Glad you enjoyed it. It was in Canada

[@mikeangelcortez8845]

@@StaticSpaces my friend thank you. cheers from san jose, california

[@chillysnowgirl8322]

(For the other place) Ok so the blue/black/white colour scheme in here is awesome, and that tile on the floor looked so retro...plus those cool Bombshell and Dreamboat bathroom doors/bathrooms are pretty cool. 😁 {Neat little surprise seeing the pink touches inside the girls' washroom, as i was just expecting plain white in there. Was the Dreamboat bathroom blue too?} The employee bathroom was horrible, and the grease in the kitchen was just unbelievably nasty, and probably what caused the floor tiles in the dining area to be so sticky (can you just imagine how much grease had to be floating in the air in there when it was operating?!?). Questions--When you were walking around in the rooms in the back, were those measuring spoons hanging up with the keys?(!) What fell that scared you? Loved those fun bloopers at the end... which was the most fun to play with, the drive thru microphone or the swivel chairs? 😆

[@StaticSpaces]

I think the colour scheme in the washrooms was left over from before it was renovated a yes the guys bathroom was blue. I'm not sure what was hanging by the keys. The thing that fell and made the loud noise was a pipe i think. I enjoyed the swivel chair the most because it so so unexpected. Lol

[@RachelDiedYesterday]

Another awesome video!

[@StaticSpaces]

Thank you very much!!

[@sirphew4941]

The whole time I felt like Mr.Rogers was giving me a tour 😅😅

[@StaticSpaces]

Hahaha, is that a good thing? Thanks for the comment!!

[@wildbluewings]

It costs nothing to keep these lively, colorful, vibrant designs, nothing at all! If only I owned one of these, I'd make sure it would be redecorated!

[@StaticSpaces]

Exactly, it actually saves the business money not too renovate a place but i think most people wouldn't visit if they didn't. That's the unfortunate reality of today's society. Thanks a lot for the comment!!

[@wildbluewings]

@@StaticSpaces I'd just renovate with replacement retro designs each time if I had to 😁☺ The geometric shapes and neon lighting is the best! Thanks to you too for this video and reply!

[@StaticSpaces]

Glad you enjoyed it!!

[@Abandoned1673]

Loved your video

[@StaticSpaces]

Glad you did and thanks so much for the comment!!

[@fawnfredenburg5361]

James I like those tables and chairs and these pretty neat too 😁

[@StaticSpaces]

Yup, straight out of the 90s!

[@fawnfredenburg5361]

And you are welcome James 😁

[@EricStapler-bn4pj]

There Is A Taco Bell In Airport Rd Huntsville Al That Still Looks The Same From The 1990s

[@StaticSpaces]

Oh nice. I have heard from a few people about ones that are local to them and still look like this one. I'm glad they still exist. Thanks very much for the comment!!

[@johnnyleroux2093]

We have the same building but it's still open on Lansdowne in Peterborough.

[@StaticSpaces]

Oh cool! I am surprised to hear some of these stores with the retro decor are still open. Thanks for watching!!

[@brandonchavez3481]

Modern fast food buildings have no style no more

[@StaticSpaces]

Completely agree. Thanks for the comment!!

[@chicken_man9802]

The style is called “bland as hell”

[@StaticSpaces]

Hahaha

[@chillysnowgirl8322]

(For the Taco Bell part) First for the sake of trivia, i counted a conservative amount of 64 spaces for seating (allowing 1 person on the bench across from the chair). Interesting to note that while the red stripe appears in the border everywhere (even in the ceramic tile version that's behind the ordering area and in the washrooms) it's dropped from the border that goes across the tables, yet appears as a single stripe on the tables' edge. 😁 It's so cool that this place stayed intact though, given how long it was abandoned! It was pretty clean too (which is ironic if it was shut down for health violations). I'd be ok if you didn't show animal carcasses, but maybe that's just me?😕 I don't know why they don't try and sell the seating, both for keeping it out of the landfill, and for the chance to possibly recoup some money (plus how cool would it be to set up a smaller version of a diner in your basement or is that just me that would LOVE to do that?!). You nailed the "too busy looking at my phone to see what's going on" thing at the beginning of the video! And somebody was definitely having lots of fun with the microphone at the drive thru window!😂😂

[@StaticSpaces]

Well i obviously didn't count the seating capacity but that is more people than I thought would fit in there! It was surprisingly clean for something that's been closed for that long. I think part of the reason for not selling the furniture likely has something to do with corporations protecting their brand, mind you then maybe they would have taken them with them IDK. Thank you for the comment!!

[@chillysnowgirl8322]

@@StaticSpaces It wasn't easy to count them either, because you kept turning the camera! I had to pause/bring it back a fair amount of times but seeing all the seats made me curious about that, haha! 😂 I guess i could see how corporations would look at not selling the stuff (they also have the image thing, and selling stuff this way might make it look like the company was doing so poorly they had to sell this; the legal team might even discourage it in case of a lawsuit if someone got hurt buying it and then re-using it, but damn it's such a waste).

[@StaticSpaces]

Yes, the lawsuit sounds like a definite possibility, everyone is so concerned about liability these days. Lol

[@MoeLarrycurly1]

I remember when Taco Bell came to our town the freeholies were $.19

[@StaticSpaces]

Damn, that most have been quite a while ago!?

[@MoeLarrycurly1]

@@StaticSpaces I think it was in the mid or early 70s they moved into a little strip mall in front of a small college here in town nobody’s ever seen food like this before at least not in Indiana.

[@erinbricker-urbanhistorian5803]

@@MoeLarrycurly1 , wow... wish we had lower prices now. (KZbinr) 🙂👋

[@LifeOfDeeG]

3 tacos extra spicy!!

[@StaticSpaces]

Hahaha

[@jrkillacam8794]

Can you do abandoned del taco pleazeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

[@StaticSpaces]

I don't think we have any Del Tacos in Canada unfortunately. Thanks very much for the comment though!!

[@mollies13]

you look like that yoyo player by zac soemthing

[@StaticSpaces]

Oh ya? I don't know who that is but I'll take it as a compliment! Thanks very much for your comment!!

[@mollies13]

@@StaticSpaces gentry stein YOYO

[@StaticSpaces]

So I just looked him up but I honestly don't see it. 😆 But then again, I think we view ourselves differently than others see us, if that makes sense

[@FlyingRoadtrips]

Forgot how nasty the colors were! Thanks for this video. Loved seeing it

[@StaticSpaces]

Haha they are definitely an acquired taste. Thanks for watching!!

[@bencaulkins]

thank you so mush

[@StaticSpaces]

No, thank you!!

[@cynthiamaybunya4622]

It is empty there is no people in the line to order food and a drink

[@StaticSpaces]

And there was nobody working there to take my order either!! Lol

[@asmrcalmingvibes]

Wow they were definitely short staffed. Must be due to COVID-19

[@TrueofBarneyDinosaur80]

That's scary

[@StaticSpaces]

What's scary?

[@TrueofBarneyDinosaur80]

@@StaticSpaces At Night Abandoned piece without power at night.

[@StaticSpaces]

Thanks for the comment!!

[@TrueofBarneyDinosaur80]

@@StaticSpaces your welcome man.

[@opportunistsglobal]

Who eats at inside a Taco Bell always the chairs and floor are sticky lol

[@StaticSpaces]

Haha yup, it's to be expected! Funny enough, the Taco Bell was the cleaner of the two restaurants!

[@theridiculousphonecalls4529]

I Work At My Local Taco Bell And it Still Has The Same Retro Look Edit Update: We Are Getting it ReModeled

[@StaticSpaces]

That is awesome, I'm a bit jealous! Lol Thanks for the comment!!

[@Chrisss2112]

Honestly, I would be fine if you didn’t include music in your videos as I feel your a good conversationalist. Thumbs up from me 👍😊

[@StaticSpaces]

Thanks, glad you like my commentary! I often wonder how people view that part of the video, sometimes i think that i ramble too much about what i am seeing. Lol I quite like my current format of music overlaying the images, you kind of need it though because otherwise it would be dead silence during those sequences. I mean in some instances i could talk more about the photos and what i trying to accomplish but some photos are just that, photos with no real story to them. Either way, thanks a lot for your comment!!

[@djsnyder8335]

Where is this taco Bell at?

[@StaticSpaces]

It was in Canada, thanks for watching!!

[@MoeLarrycurly1]

Timer parking lot lights or lights in general

[@StaticSpaces]

Not sure what you are referring too?

[@jacobhughes1287]

The yellow dial thing you were asking about

[@MoeLarrycurly1]

@@StaticSpaces It’s a little timer by Intermatic you can turn on the lights or anything of 120 voltage you can be even used to defrost refrigerators and freezers

[@StaticSpaces]

Oh very cool, that makes a lot of sense, thank you!!

[@sarahluke7045]

They didn’t have fries back in the day…

[@StaticSpaces]

I forgot about that, that was a long time ago! Thanks for the comment!!

[@joshuatranterhtd4life677]

so is this the actual Taco Bell you used to go to or a different one?

[@StaticSpaces]

I had probably gone to this one a few times but it wasn't the one from my story. Thanks for the comment!!

[@suburbia8831]

We’re is this npr Florida. Ps npr Fl is a shit hole I should know I used to live there

[@StaticSpaces]

No, it's in Ontario, Canada.

[@davidabreu1718]

Yeah that's what I eat there on e and stopped they were not sanitary

[@StaticSpaces]

I don't think i had ever been to that particular restaurant before but it was surprisingly clean for being abandoned for so long.

[@JonBarraquio]

I've driven by these locations for quite a while and was hoping something would be done with them. Both were never busy when they were open

[@StaticSpaces]

Ya, i never really saw anyone at Gazebo, although someone else locally to the area said they had great steak sandwiches

[@supermarioandfriends_]

What city what state is at?

[@StaticSpaces]

Canada. Thanks a lot for watching!!

[@supermarioandfriends_]

I'm trying to find it on Google maps like the area city

[@StaticSpaces]

Sorry but i never give out specifics about where a location is

[@wegottafishdude]

Sorry dude but that’s not retro that’s the second or third generation of Taco Bell

[@StaticSpaces]

I disagree, this design was initially found in Taco Bells from the 90s, which began three decades ago and to me that definitely fits the definition of retro.

[@chrismayer3919]

If it’s not a current Taco Bell design aesthetic, it still considered ‘retro’ especially being the haunted squalid hovel it is now… (they gotta tear old wrecks like that down)

[@phantomhourglass13]

It doesn't have to be the first style to be considered retro, this was an 80's-90's style Taco Bell, the 90's started over 40 years ago.