Tacala, LLC was founded in 1989 by two partners – Don Ghareeb and Dick Reese – who had extensive experience in the restaurant business through a variety of executive positions with several major food-service operations. Don Ghareeb cut his teeth on a number of family-owned and national restaurant chains beginning in his youth, while Dick Reese rose through various financial positions, including working for one of the “Big Eight” accounting firms.
Joining forces in 1975, they acquired a Birmingham, Alabama hamburger business and expanded it into a regional chain with more than 100 units. In 1989, Dick and Don sold the regional hamburger chain and became involved with Taco Bell Corp. through a series of real-estate transactions.
Seeing the potential in being the leading provider of quick service Mexican food and a well-established brand, Dick and Don opened three Taco Bell restaurants in Birmingham, Alabama in 1989. Through a series of strategic acquisitions from Taco Bell Corp. and other franchisees, as well as developing new restaurants, Tacala grew to be the largest Taco Bell franchisee in the nation with over 170 restaurants in six states. You will find Tacala restaurants in Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia. Tacala is actively developing new restaurants and reviewing acquisition opportunities, so career growth potential within the company is excellent.
Tacala Finds Recipe for Success
The Birmingham News - Read article
In July 2005, Tacala lost its beloved co-founder, Dick Reese. Dick’s legacy lives on through the continued growth of the company and the many lives he touched.