Taco Bell Construction Update: No Más Cantina at 1614 Chestnut Street But A Summer Debut Still Seems Likely
The Rittenhouse location had to ditch its original plans for booze because, PA, but construction is making progress.
No booze, no alcohol but Gorditas, Mexican Pizza, and chicken nuggets (??!) Si.
The highly anticipated Taco Bell at 1614 Chestnut Street has been making steady progress, but, ngl, the change in plans – what was originally slated to be Philadelphia’s first Taco Bell Cantina with boozy slushies has pivoted to become a standard Taco Bell location.
The Cantina That Wasn’t
Franchisee Danny Patel originally planned to bring the unique Cantina concept to Rittenhouse Square, which would have made this Philadelphia’s first alcohol-serving Taco Bell. The Cantina format typically features an expanded menu, craft cocktails, beer, and a more upscale dining experience compared to traditional Taco Bell locations.
However, Patel has now moved forward without a liquor license per The Inquirer, meaning Philadelphians will have to settle for regular Taco Bell fare – tbh, sometimes that’s exactly what you need at 2 AM after a night out in Rittenhouse.
So what happened? Redditors’ had some insight:
Liquor licenses in PA are distributed on a per capita basis and updated during the census. I think something happened that caused us to be way over the amount we are supposed to have making it almost impossible to get a new one. You have to buy an existing one and transfer it. Due to the scarcity they are not cheap.
What to Expect
Even without the alcohol component, this location promises to be a significant addition to the neighborhood’s casual and late night scene, so we don’t have to order from across the Taco Bell at 1037 Chestnut Street (don’t judge).
While Rittenhouse has great, great dining venues, having a known QSR as an option is ALWAYS welcome. Even better: this is a great spot on a highly trafficked block that was vacant for over 5 years since Chestnut Diner was open for a hot minute in 2020 (tough year, you know?) after 4 Seasons Food Court closed, so it’ll be nice to see it occupied.
Summer Opening on Track
Based on the progress we saw a summer 2025 opening timeline still appears realistic. The interior work is well underway, both upstairs AND downstairs, so we’re super excited!
We’ll continue monitoring the progress and will update you as we get closer to the grand opening.
