A FAST-FOOD giant has abruptly closed one of its branches after a short stint, leaving some locals confused and saddened.
The popular US chain only started welcoming hungry customers in December 2022 but has appeared to pull shutters down less than two years later.
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Mexican-inspired Taco Bell has closed in Grantham, Lincolnshire, in a blow to burrito buyers.
Signs have been taken down from the London Road restaurant and windows boarded up, Lincolnshire Live reported.
It took over a former Pizza Hut, claiming a seating capacity of 60 people and creating jobs for 35 people at the time.
The Taco joint's future prospects previously appeared bright with talks of adding a drive-thru to the site.
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But that was dismissed due to traffic concerns and now the shop is out of operation.
It was reportedly open just last weekend - but by Monday July 1, locals had to go elsewhere for tacos.
Some locals took to social media to express their sadness.
One tagged friends in a Facebook comment, asking: "Where are you both going to go now?"
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Others commented sad-face emojis.
But alternative views suggested it was only a matter of time until it closed.
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One comment said: "I'm waiting for the one in Lincoln to close. Never see anyone in there."
Another seemed to think there weren't enough Mexican fast-food fans in the area, writing: "Hardly surprising, who on earth wants to eat a massive crisp with mince in it?"
A third said due to its location, locals were likely to simply "drive past it" rather than stop by.
It's not clear why the store has closed but The Sun approached Taco Bell for comment.
How to save at Taco Bell
GET APPY
TheTaco Bellapp is free to download via Google Play and the Apple App Store.
Like with Krispy Kreme and Greggs, you can build up points and use them to get freebies or money off certain items.
With 200 points you can redeem a free dessert, and with 500 points a £6 voucher, for example.
You also get a free taco just for signing up, and a free treat on your birthday.
COMPARE PRICES
Menu prices can vary between branches.
If you have two or three of the same chain nearby, it’s worth checking which is cheapest.
You can ask in store for prices or call up.
CASHBACK
If you order your meal via eitherDeliveroo, Just Eat orUber Eatsyou can click through Topcashback to get money back on your order.
SHOW ID
It’s no secret that if you work for the NHS or are a student, you can get access to deals nobody else can.
Show your student or NHS ID and you can get 15% off.
In December 2023, Taco Bell suddenly shut a popular drive-thru restaurant in The Haudagain Retail Park in Aberdeen.
A notice to customers appeared on the door informing them of the closure, according to local new reports.
It read: "Permanently closed. Your closest Taco Bell is Aberdeen Union Street and also for delivery on Just Eat and Uber Eats."
The Mexican fast food chain has more than 135 restaurants across the UK, including drive-thrus.
Some restaurants have closed a few branches here and there for various reasons, like when a store lease has come to an end and is not renewed.
Other examples of one-off rather than widespread closures is if there are changes in the area, like a shopping centre closing, and in some cases a shop will shut to relocate to another area.
Or they may close underperforming branches where there are not enough customers to make the location viable.
Why are fast food chains closing branches?
Some chains have faced tougher conditions though, forcing them to shut dozens of stores, or all of them in the worst case.
Restaurants, pubs and bars have been hit by a number of factors.
Firstly, many were wiped out or struggled to survive during and after the Covid pandemic hit.
Since then, rising inflation has pushed up operating costs, staff salaries and energy costs.
Plus, trade has been down as many households can no longer afford to spend money drinking and eating out due to the cost of living crisis.
Big-name brands likeWetherspoonsandbranches.
Beefeater and Brewers Fayre owner Whitbread, which has 840 sites across the UK, said it will close 200 of the family favourite restaurants.
Pizza giant,Papa Johns is shutting down 43 of its storessoon.
Tasty, the owner ofWildwood, said it will shut sites as part of major restructuring plans.
The brand plansto close 20 loss-making restaurantsafter a “challenging” start to the year.
Some chains have not survived,Byron Burger fell into administrationlast year,with owners saying it would result in the loss of over 200jobs.
But it's not all bad news as some well-known names are OPENING new sites.
US burger chainWendy's, which already has 23 sites in the UK, will cut the ribbon on eight new locations this year.
Wingstop, which currently runs 39 sites across the UK, is set to open a further 15 in 2024.
Chicken chainPopeyesrevealed rapid expansion plans to almost double in size this year with 30 more branches.
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Domino's, which currently runs 1,300 UK and Republic ofIrelandsites, has set its sights on running 2,000 stores by 2033.
Lounge is adding seven new locations to its portfolio of more than200 restaurantsaround the UK .
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