Texas-based Rusty Taco has spent the last 15 years expanding to 11 states, and wants to add Alabama to the mix.

Founded in the Dallas area in 2010, the fast casual Tex-Mex company offers tacos with beef, chicken, pork or seafood, along with nachos and margaritas. There’s even a breakfast menu.

Denise Fenton co-founded the company with her husband Rusty – who lent his name to the venture – and their business partner Steve Dunn.

She said Rusty Taco has grown organically, with a footprint stretching from Atlanta to Salt Lake City.

Now they’re targeting Alabama.

“We’ve had some conversations with interested people,” she said. “But we’re really starting to dive into the markets we want to be in.”

Fenton said Birmingham offers a mix of good demographics, with “young professionals, adults, families and young adults. UAB would be a good fit for us.”

But the company is also looking at college towns as well. Fenton has a daughter living in Auburn, she said.

“We would be open to expanding in-state to any market that makes sense,” she said.

Most of its locations are a traditional 2,000-to-3,000-square-foot standalone restaurant, though some are non-traditional at stadiums, airports and a chain of travel centers.

“We’re looking for people who are dedicated to the restaurant business,” Fenton said. “We’re talking about multi-unit operators that are passionate about the business, with experience.”

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