Following a successful 2023, the family behind the new dual-concept of Frutilandia and Taqueria Factory is getting ready to open a new location.
The Garfio family had a big year last year, and the success is spilling into the new year. Previously, What Now Phoenix reported on the company opening its newest concept, a dual location of two of their pre-existing eateries, Frutilandia and Taqueria Factory, in Chandler and Tempe. The Garfio family recently opened a new location in Mesa on January 8, with plans to open many more, according to AZ Central. The new location features one shared kitchen, a bar, and a drive-thru.
“Although (the businesses) are separated by a wall, there is a door through which people can go to experience the two concepts,” owner Gamaliel Garfio tells AZ Central. “After we opened, we started to see that people came, had their tacos, and most of them walked through the door to eat ice cream or some strawberries and cream, or a raspado (snow cone) at Frutilandia.”
While Fruitlandia has been around since early 2006, the idea came to light in June 2022, when the family bought a building in Chandler, and the first-ever location of Taqueria Factory opened next to Frutliandia. Then, the company realized the idea’s full potential when the new Tempe location at Arizona Mills opened, featuring a large enough kitchen for both food establishments. Eventually, they added a bar area and a drive-thru.
“As soon as we opened it, we realized that it is one of the best decisions we ever made, and the sales since they opened have been very healthy, spectacular, you could say, compared to other (locations),” Garfio said.
Now that the Mesa location of the dual concept has opened, the company is already in the process of opening another location. While the exact site of this new location has been determined, it will sit in the same area of the first-ever Fruitlandia in Mesa on the corner of Southern Avenue and Gilbert Road. The company hopes to open this site as soon as Spring 2024.
