Mr. Taco alternative in Traverse City that credits Lansing for its success set to close

Eric Lacy | Lansing State Journal

Show Caption Hide Caption Dimondale couple excited about Mr. Taco grand opening Dimondale residents James and Cindy Clark get their Mr. Taco fix during the beloved restaurant's grand re-opening Friday, March 23, 2018. Cindy shows her support by wearing a Mr. Taco sweatshirt.

LANSING -- The Traverse City alternative to Mr. Taco, a popular Lansing area Mexican restaurant chain that once had four locations, has announced its plans to close.

Taco House, at 1707 S. Garfield Ave., is set to close "by the end of 2018" after 37 years in business, John Coscarelli, its owner, said.

Coscarelli, a 64-year-old former Mr. Taco employee, said Tuesday he credits longtime customers' frequent visits up north for helping Taco House become a success.

"As people came up, tasted our food, and tried us, they just realized they liked what we were doing and serving," Coscarelli said. "Word kind of spread, and the business kind of blossomed from there.

"Lansing has been very good for us."

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News of Taco House's planned closure comes at a time when Mr. Taco has found success with one reopened location in south Lansing.

Last March, Bill Bonofiglo, the son of a Mr. Taco founder, resurrected the business to much fanfare. His move marked the first Mr. Taco to serve Lansing customers in over 10 years. The first Mr. Taco opened in 1967.

Coscarelli grew up in Lansing and said he wishes the "new" Mr. Taco well. The reopened restaurant is located at 3124 S. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.

"They will do a good job for you," Coscarelli said of Mr. Taco. "I'm sure."

Don't expect the Taco House to ever reopen.

Coscarelli said he recently sold his building in Traverse City to someone who plans to demolish it. He declined to reveal details about the sale and what the property will be used for

Coscarelli has spent most of his life tied to Michigan's Mexican food industry.

He is the nephew of Paul Coscarelli, one of the three original Mr. Taco founders in Lansing.

Years without Mr. Taco menu items like red and green all-meat burritos and cherry burros made Lansing area residents like Mike Wonn crave for an alternative.

Wonn, 52, of Bath Township, found his edible oasis at Traverse City's Taco House. Taco House's planned closure is "horrible news," he said.

"There's a lot of discussion in Facebook groups that (Taco House) isn't Mr. Taco," Mike Wonn said. "But it is. It's the same damn recipes."

Wonn said he's "holding out" on making frequent trips to Mr. Taco's reopened location in south Lansing because he's now trying fulfill his cravings at home.

Karen Wilcox, 64, of Lansing, said she's also distraught by the Taco House news.

Wilcox visits Taco House about four times per year with her family. Her brother, Alan Wilcox, once worked at Mr. Taco in Lansing.

Said Karen Wilcox of the family's first Taco House visit about five years ago, "We walked into the place and it was like coming home again."

Coscarelli moved from Lansing to Traverse City in 1981 and said he started to create his own recipes at that time so his business could stand on its own.

There was never any intention to copy Mr. Taco, he said.

However, Coscarelli said he's fine with Taco House customers offering comparisons.

"Everybody has their own opinion," Coscarelli said cheerfully. "I’m not trying to be Mr. Taco. We’re Taco House.

"(Mr Taco's) product is excellent; I wouldn't take offense to anyone comparing."

Eric Lacy is a reporter for the Lansing State Journal. Contact him at 517-377-1206 or elacy@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @EricLacy.