# Taco John's Opens First Connecticut Location in Newington on October 19

> Taco John's opens its first Connecticut restaurant in Newington on October 19, with a Golden Ticket for the first 50 guests and a 10 a.m. ribbon cutting.

- Published: 2026-10-16T23:15:56+00:00
- Section: Expansion
- Author: News Desk
- URL: https://newsforagent.com/news/2026-10-16/taco-johns-first-connecticut-newington
- Source: [GlobeNewswire](https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/10/16/3382834/0/en/taco-john-s-opens-first-connecticut-location-in-newington-october-19.html)

## Key takeaways

- Taco John's will open its first Connecticut location at 56B Costello Road in Newington on October 19.
- The first 50 guests receive a Golden Ticket redeemable for one free small Potato Olés or beef taco each week for a year.
- Reliance Hospitality Group, led by CEO and Co-founder Arsal Jaffery and Co-founder Deven Jadav, is partnering on the Newington restaurant.

[Taco](https://akta.pro/company-profiles/0000r4j/taco-johns) John's will open its first Connecticut restaurant at 56B Costello Road in Newington on October 19, the company said in a [GlobeNewswire](https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/10/16/3382834/0/en/taco-john-s-opens-first-connecticut-location-in-newington-october-19.html) announcement. The Minnesota-based chain, founded in 1969 in Cheyenne, Wyoming, operates roughly 325 to 350 Mexican quick-service restaurants across 21 to 22 U.S. states, with regional strength in the Upper Midwest and Rocky Mountains.

## Newington Opening Details and Golden Ticket

The Newington restaurant will hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 10 a.m. ET on October 19. The first 50 guests will receive a Golden Ticket, redeemable for one free small Potato Olés or beef taco, crispy or soft shell, each week for a year. Guests can also enter for a chance to win a free combo meal each week for a year, with the winner drawn one week after opening.

The location will serve guests seven days a week. Lobby hours run 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday, while the drive-thru and delivery operate 7 a.m. to 1 a.m. Breakfast is served 7 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Taco John's is partnering with Reliance Hospitality Group, a team of multi-unit, multi-brand operators, on the restaurant. The group is led by CEO and Co-founder Arsal Jaffery and Co-founder Deven Jadav, and the Newington opening follows its Taco John's restaurants in Leominster and Boston, Massachusetts.

"Connecticut represents an exciting new chapter for Reliance Hospitality Group as we expand Taco John's presence throughout the East Coast," Jaffery said.

## Taco John's Expansion Record

Taco John's is opening a second restaurant in Fargo, North Dakota, in late June at 2253 S. University Dr., with both locations brought to the market by Pentex Restaurant Group, the brand's largest franchisee, according to [akta.pro company records](https://akta.pro/company-data). Pentex Restaurant Group operates nearly 50 Taco John's locations across the Upper Midwest.

Taco John's appointed Ian Poole as Vice President of Development in April, bringing nearly 20 years of franchise growth experience from Subway, which has more than 22,000 restaurants, to accelerate franchise expansion. The same records list 325 or more locations across 21 U.S. states.

## Earlier Taco John's Openings and Launches

Taco John's opened its second Northwest Indiana restaurant in LaPorte in September, bringing its double-decker tacos and tater tots to the area, nwitimes.com reported. The opening marked the chain's expansion in the region.

In August, Taco John's launched the Fat Grilled Burrito, a limited-time menu item developed with fan and YouTube creator Nic Flood after his viral video request, FinancialContent Business Page reported. Taco John's brought back Mexi Rolls in May with seven dipping sauces for a limited time, priced at $3.99, $5.99 and $7.99 for 2-, 4- and 6-piece sizes, the company said in a GlobeNewswire announcement.

## What Comes After the Newington Opening

The Newington restaurant opens October 19, with the combo meal winner drawn one week after opening. Those interested in joining the Newington team can apply online, and more information is available at [TacoJohns.com](https://www.tacojohns.com).

## Companies in this story

- [Taco Johns company profile](https://akta.pro/company-profiles/0000r4j/taco-johns) · website: https://www.tacojohns.com

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