ALEXANDRIA, VA—The Taco Bell Cantina in Alexandria is expected to open by the end of 2018, the company told Patch in an email. It will be the DC region and Virginia's first Taco Bell Cantina, which serves alcoholic drinks.

The restaurant will be located at Tavern Square, 417 King Street, the space formerly occupied by the Pendleton Shop. Menu offerings include sharable appetizers, along with food items found at regular Taco Bell locations. beer, wine, sangria and twisted Freezes. It will have 52 indoor seats and 20 outdoor seats. Indoor hours will be 7 a.m.-2 a.m., while the restaurant agreed to limit outdoor dining hours to 11 p.m.

There are dozens of Taco Bell Cantina locations across the U.S. The locations are designed for urban, walkable areas. City Council approved Taco Bell Cantina to open in March. Some residents expressed concerns about alcohol sales, restaurant hours and littering during the approval process. Last year, plans for another Taco Bell at 4213 Duke Street failed after residents voiced similar complaints.

