MADISON — The first time former banker Chris Brown and his wife Paige took their family to eat at Taco Mama in Crestline Village in Birmingham, they discussed how nice it would be to have a Taco Mama in Huntsville. The second time they ate there, the discussion was “how do we bring Taco Mama to the Tennessee Valley?”

Taco Mama’s Build Your Own Tacos and Burritos offer more than two dozen free toppings. (Photo/Steve Babin)

In 2014, the Browns opened Huntsville’s first Taco Mama at Twickenham Square in the Medical District.

Having no restaurant experience of their own, the entrepreneurial couple found a veteran food and beverage expert who could help them make their new venture a success.

“No, we did not have any prior restaurant experience, but we love food, especially Mexican food, and we eat out a lot and feel we have our finger on the pulse of what people in Huntsville and Madison like,” said Paige Brown about opening in the medical district. “David Weand has over 20 years in food sales and restaurant management, and he came highly recommended by the Taco Mama founder in Birmingham.

“When he moved to Huntsville to become general manager of our Twickenham restaurant, we made a deal with him that if we survived a year, we would bring him in as a partner in opening any other locations. Today, he is our partner in all three subsequent locations and any additional stores in the future.”

Taco Mama’s Build Your Own Tacos and Burritos offering over two dozen free toppings; a selection of margaritas and sangria; along with the fun and festive atmosphere that twice impressed the Browns in Birmingham, took off under Weand’s management.

In the past six years, Taco Mama has opened locations at the Village of Providence and Jones Valley in Huntsville and, most recently, in the new Publix Super Market at Clift Farm shopping plaza, on U.S. 72 in Madison.

What was it like this past year, opening restaurants during a pandemic where for a while, people were discouraged from going out to restaurants?

“We had to go on our faith and positivity,” said Brown. “Everybody has been in the same boat. We had been talking to Clift Farm for a long time and had already signed a lease when the pandemic hit. We were not the only restaurant to be committed to a new build out, so we did what had to be done.”

Paige Brown: ” … We love food, especially Mexican food, and we eat out a lot and feel we have our finger on the pulse of what people in Huntsville and Madison like.” (Photo/Steve Babin)

Brown said a couple of inherent aspects of Taco Mama made the transition fairly easy for them.

“We always preferred corner locations because it gives us room for an outdoor patio,” she said. “The Village of Providence location has a humongous outdoor patio and so does Clift Farm.

“Because of the 50 percent capacity rule, we had to move tables and chairs to ensure they are six feet apart, but as far as having to change our build out, we did not really have to do that because we have always offered outside dining and a fairly wide-open environment.”

The other aspect of Taco Mama that made COVID restrictions relatively easy is that they have always offered take-out service and the pick-up shelf is right up front when the customer walks in the door.

“We have always done a big take-out business,” said Brown. “You can order online and pay online, or call in and pre-pay, so the pickup order shelf is right there at all our locations and it will remain there going forward.”

Brown said they feel incredibly grateful to have weathered the crisis so well and to be able to continue their plans for expanding to Clift Farm.

“I know the pandemic is not completely over, but at least things stayed on track for us to open in Madison this year,” she said.

“We love the high energy created by our team members and our customers.”

Taco Mama employs more than 140 workers, and they are already talking about expanding.

“We definitely see one more location, but in our hearts, well, there may be a couple more,” said Brown.