FENTON, MI - The owners of the French Laundry and Crust Bakery will add a taco restaurant and secretive speakeasy in downtown Fenton.

El Topo -- which means "the mole" in Spanish -- will open at 113 Mill St. in the fall, according to Co-owner Mark Hamel.

The restaurant will feature tacos and primarily be take-out, although there will be seating for 10-12 inside, Hamel said.

"The back -- at this point our official comment is no comment because of the secretive nature of it," he said.

Assistant City Manager Mike Burns said Fenton City Council approved a liquor license transfer for the speakeasy on Monday, May 23.

"It wouldn't be illegal, but it would have the speakeasy-type feel," Burns said. ""It'll add to the redevelopment of downtown Fenton. Our goal is a restaurant and retail district."

Hamel said there is a national trend of speakeasies in the restaurant industry, but they're mainly in large cities.

For example, in New York City, Hamel said there is a hot dog restaurant called "Please Don't Tell." Customers go inside and into a phone booth. After dialing a certain number, the operator of a hidden speakeasy will open a secret door to the bar if there is space, Hamel said.

The cocktail culture and desire for pre-prohibition era drinks also is adding to the excitement, he said.

"It's sort of hard to talk about it without talking about it," Hamel said about his newest establishment. "It's strictly word of mouth is all this is. You won't know about it unless someone tells you about it. There is only going to be one entrance into the building."

The new business comes on the heels of Hamel and co-owner Chad Brennan also expanding its Crust Bakery a few blocks away.

"It's exciting to get another food establishment in downtown Fenton," Hamel said. "Anytime you can add an additional unique establishment to downtown it helps draw peopleintoo your community."

Dominic Adams is a reporter for The Flint Journal. Contact him at dadams5@mlive.com or 810-241-8803. Follow him on Twitter, Facebook or Google+.