NEW MEXICO (KRQE) — If you have a favorite Taco Cabana order, don’t worry, it’s not going anywhere — but you might notice a new name with some local flair coming soon.
For more than 30 years, Taco Cabana has been a familiar sight around New Mexico. But now, it’s getting a new name. “What goes better with New Mexico than red and green. Then also, red and green are the colors of the Mexican flag. So we have the combination of New Mexican food and Mexican food. We bring both flavors in – that’s how we came up with the name Roja Verde,” said Company President Ed Rodriguez.
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All six New Mexico locations are becoming “Roja Verde,” a 100% New Mexico-owned company.
The name, colors and logo are changing, but Rodriguez wants to assure customers, their favorite menu items aren’t.
The big difference? Instead of being part of a Texas-based chain, these restaurants are now their own New Mexico brand. “The recipes are gonna be the same, nothing’s really changing. Our colors, though, are changing from pink to turquoise blue, and our name of course,” said Rodriguez.
“We honestly never were a Texas brand. We always had our own recipes, our own food, our own delicious menu items. Now, what it’s going to allow us to do is maybe even come up with some new ideas,” said Roja Verde Senior Manager Susan Trillo. “There’s no more red tape involved, the owners are local. I live here, I’ve lived here for over 35 years.”
The new signs are expected to start going up once the necessary approvals are in place, with the rebrand expected to be complete by the end of the year. “I just wanted to say that Albuquerque, New Mexico has been really good to us for the last 32 years,” said Rodriguez.
Rodriguez says he was born and raised in Texas, but moved to Albuquerque in the 90s, and it’s been home ever since.
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