Colorado's Last Del Taco Remains Open in Grand Junction

Community support keeps the lone remaining Del Taco location in the state operational as the chain faces broader closures.

Mar. 31, 2026 at 4:03pm

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A brightly colored, high-contrast silkscreen print of a single, iconic Del Taco fast food item repeated in a tight grid pattern, conceptually representing the local community's embrace of this last remaining Colorado Del Taco location.The vibrant, pop art-inspired celebration of Grand Junction's lone surviving Del Taco location reflects the community's steadfast support for this local franchise amidst broader corporate challenges.Grand Junction Today

After a wave of Del Taco restaurant closures across Colorado, the lone remaining location in the state is in Grand Junction. The Grand Junction Del Taco is locally owned and operated, separate from the Newport Ventures group that filed for bankruptcy and shuttered most of the state's Del Taco restaurants. Local management says the Grand Junction store has enjoyed steady community support, allowing it to stay open while the rest of the Colorado market contracts.

Why it matters

The survival of the Grand Junction Del Taco highlights how local franchise ownership can insulate a business from broader corporate challenges. As a popular taco chain, Del Taco's retreat from Colorado raises questions about the long-term viability of national fast-food brands in the state, especially as consumer preferences shift toward more locally-sourced and community-driven dining options.

The details

Del Taco had nearly 20 locations across Colorado in the early 2000s, but that number dwindled to just one last month when the Newport Ventures group that operated most of the state's Del Tacos filed for bankruptcy. The lone remaining Del Taco is located in Grand Junction, and it is locally owned and operated separately from the Newport Ventures franchise. Local management says they have enjoyed steady community support, which has allowed them to stay open while the rest of the Colorado market closed.

  • Del Taco had nearly 20 locations across Colorado in the early 2000s.
  • Last month, the state lost all but 1 Del Taco location as Newport Ventures filed for bankruptcy.

The players

Newport Ventures

The franchise group that operated most of the Del Taco locations in Colorado before filing for bankruptcy and closing all but one store in the state.

Grand Junction Del Taco

The lone remaining Del Taco location in Colorado, which is locally owned and operated separately from the Newport Ventures franchise.

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What they’re saying

“We anticipate customers coming from other parts of Colorado, and appreciate their steady community support here on the Western Slope, which saved us from the closures affecting the rest of the state.”

— Local management

What’s next

Del Taco's corporate leadership says the Colorado closures may only be temporary, and they hope to bring the brand back to additional markets in the state, but there is no firm reopening timeline yet.

The takeaway

The survival of the Grand Junction Del Taco demonstrates how locally-owned franchises can sometimes weather broader corporate challenges, especially when they have strong community support. This story highlights the importance of mission-driven, community-focused businesses in an era of national chain consolidation.