Comments on: The Taco Bell That Time Forgot

By: chad

chad — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 07:49:14 +0000

I live in a suburb of Detroit, and there is a Rally’s (in Eastpointe) who has 2 drive thru windows on either side of the building, so you can choose if you want to use the passenger side window or not. I guess the theory is that if you have a passenger in the car this line would be quicker since most people would use the typical driver-side window.

Also, this has probably the slowest and overall worst service of any place of business I’ve ever been to.

By: Reid Smith

Reid Smith — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 15:44:12 +0000

Sad to say that time finally remembered this Taco Bell. It now looks like every other modern store, complete with driver-side drive-through.
Still, thanks for the memories. I thought of a few of my own after I stumbled across this page!

By: Richard Williams

Richard Williams — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 22:51:49 +0000

I am a British designer who had the good fortune to work at Soyster & Ohrenschall in about 1984 on a two month placement from the company’s London owner. It was incredible – they’d been responsible for so much great corporate identity work, from Konica films to Holiday Inn. I was blown away by them and fell in love with San Francisco at the same time.

Every time I get to SF I make a visit to Sutter Street just to relive my time there. Legendary – yes they were. I was never the same again.

By: Mary Bliss

Mary Bliss — Fri, 31 Aug 2007 10:40:05 +0000

I do remember two original Taco Bells, in Erie. They, since, been replaced with the building that is in the middle picture. I’ve heard form sources that the first two Taco Bells (In Erie) were built in the late 70′s-early 80′s.

As for Arby’s, we do have two of these original neon signs in Erie, although the buildings have been remoldled a long while ago. These signs are still in operation. The Arby’s sign has to be one of my favorite neon signs.

By: goat

goat — Mon, 21 Aug 2006 07:16:18 +0000

Ask Bennett if he's ever eaten at this taco bell in Glendive, Montana... The have the best potatoe ole's, but I think they all do. http://www.flickr.com/photos/goatopolis/40132120/

By: Tom

Tom — Sun, 20 Aug 2006 06:14:49 +0000

Donovan, your alerting me to this development has greatly soured my mood!

I just ate there recently too.

Taco Bell, when you demolish and bulldoze the old structure to replace it with a new one it is called “rebuilding” not “remodeling”. English 101, guys.

When historical structures like this cease to be, Omaha loses! No, America loses!

However will I sleep tonight? Sadness envelopes my soul.

Back to my sabbatical.

By: Donovan Beery

Donovan Beery — Sat, 19 Aug 2006 17:26:56 +0000

The great Omaha trademark of the reverse drive-thru Taco Bell is no more. A giant empty lot with a “we’re remodeling” sign has replaced it. May the new building also be as historic as the old one was.

By: Bill Dow

Bill Dow — Thu, 04 May 2006 19:27:13 +0000

The greatest thing about the older Taco Bell’s and Burger Kings, etc. is you know exactly what they are! Some of the new designs are becoming so confusing in their identity – combined Taco Bells and Baskin Robbins… combined Wendy’s and Tim Horton’s… its a feeding frenzy!!

By: D. Kelly

D. Kelly — Wed, 26 Apr 2006 22:15:04 +0000

I am interest in the old style Taco Bell buildings with the parapet w/bell space. Anyone know if any of these have fallen over/failed? Or, have any of these parapets been removed because of cracks, etc? Thanks

By: DesignMaven

DesignMaven — Tue, 25 Apr 2006 00:58:14 +0000

Thought I’d share some History on the Designer and Identity Consultancy of the Taco Bell, That Time Forgot.

That Old Taco Bell Identity was Designed by Soyster & Ohrenschall, a Legendary
San Francisco Identity Consultancy. Renamed Addison.

The Designer of the Taco Bell Identity System is Legendary Identity Designer/Consultant Howard York.

Responsible for Creative Direction OF Exxon; ESSO Petrol Stations Worldwide; with Saul Bass. To include; BP; SOHIO; GULF; Japan Energy Corporation; (JOMO). Howard York Commenced Exterior Retail Signage for McDonald’s during
his tenure with Bass Yager Associates.

Other Major Identity Contributions of Howard York’s Genius, SANYO; Conroy’s Flowers, (others)
With Anspach Grossman Portugal.

With Addison, Responsible for Creative Direction, Development and Design of National Jewish Hospital; Hill Bros Imported Coffee Exchange; General Sekiyu (GSK) Petrol Stations; Holiday Inn Crowne Plaza; Embassy Suites; Nebraska Savings; Norwest Bank;(others).

With Lippincott & Margulies, Howard York Developed and Designed Identities for American Motors; Weyerhaeuser; TransUnion; Household International, Girard Bank, Goldman Sachs Brokerage, (other).

Also to Mr. York’s Credit is the Identities for AARP; Riyahd International Airport; Pace Foods, National Elevator and The Arts Commission of San Francisco, only Sratches The Surface.

Corporate Identity 101, Guys and Dolls.

Generally when a new Corporate Identity System is Implemented. It is the Corporate Owned Facilities that Benefit from the Revitalization Initially.

Franchise Retail Outlets are allowed to Implement Revitalization at their Discretion or Lack thereof.

Thus, the Problem that Exist with Burger King and other Fast Food Restaurants that have not Brought Image In line with Reality. More than likely they’re Franchise Outlets.

DC1974 and Gregory Borden.

If I’m not having a Senior Moment and My Recall Functioning Properly. I think Lippincott & Margulies Developed and Designed the Arby’s Identity. Although, a Vegetarian for over twenty years. A friend and I were in a Shopping Mall. I was quite surprised to see the Arby’s Identity hard at work and unchanged and continuing to operate since the early 1960s.

A Milestone for a Staple Fast Food Chain that no longer Advertises in Mainstream Media. At least in the Washington Metro Area. It’s been Light Years since I’ve seen an Arby’s Television Commercial.

Back To My Sabbatical.