Tacos 4 Life Grill, a growing fast casual taco restaurant brand on a mission to help end childhood hunger, is partnering with Franchisee Chip Ladigo, former Director of Operations at The Cowfish Sushi Burger Bar, to open his first of five locations in the Charlotte region.
Groundbreaking for North Carolina’s first location begins this week at Christenbury Corners, 2940 Derita Rd., Suite A, Concord, North Carolina.
“We’re so excited to be expanding to Concord and seeing how our mission continues to grow and feed more and more kids each day,” says Tacos 4 Life CEO, Austin Samuelson. “With every new store, we have the opportunity to feed over 1,000 kids a day and empower a new city to join us in the fight to end childhood hunger.”
Tacos 4 Life is proud to offer a chef-inspired menu boasting exceptional food that people love and enjoy. In addition to excellent food, guests truly connect to the company’s mission. For every taco, quesadilla, salad or rice bowl purchased, the taco restaurant donates 22 cents to Feed My Starving Children, a nonprofit organization committed to ending childhood starvation. Since opening the first Tacos 4 Life location in Conway, AR in June of 2014, the restaurants have donated more than 3 million meals.
“Tacos 4 Life combines two of my passions—running exceptional restaurants and philanthropy,” says Ladigo. “I’m grateful to be able to bring this great concept to North Carolina, while also helping to end childhood hunger around the world. I am confident that our community will embrace our mission and love our food.”
Julie Gardner of Katz and Associates represented Tacos 4 Life. Roy Crain and Roby Pratt of Atlantic Retail represented the landlord of the property, Justin Karas of Karas Properties.
Jason Hood of Hood Architect is the designer. Kevin Gais of Gais Construction is the general contractor.
The first Tacos 4 Life Grill opened in Conway, Arkansas, on June 9, 2014, but this is not where the story begins.
Long before Tacos 4 Life opened its doors, Austin and Ashton Samuelson had a heart for the hungry. In 2009, they learned that over 18,000 children were dying worldwide each day due to starvation and hunger related causes. What surprised them is that the problem was completely preventable. Starvation is nothing more than a distribution problem. This simple fact moved them so much that they knew they could, and should, do something to help solve this problem. Thus, Tacos 4 Life was born.
The Samuelsons believe that God is up to something big and can use Tacos 4 Life, which exists to serve amazing food and to empower communities to fight to end world hunger, to help solve the world’s most solvable problem. Tacos 4 Life is a highly differentiated restaurant that offers chef-inspired, award winning menu items served in a unique environment. Our philosophy is based on delivering an unforgettable experience . . . great food, genuine service, and a mission focus that changes the world with every meal.
