“Without the community, honestly, it’ll be impossible to move forward even another day,” Crush Taco owner Mo Assi said. “We’re very thankful for the people that have come out and that have taken food to go.”
The counter service taco shop on Dallas Parkway shifted to only to-go orders after pausing dine-in service in mid-March, Assi said.
“It’s kind of like stopping a train on the dime,” he said. “We had to adjust our business on the fly.”
Even with a shift in the restaurant’s service model, Assi said Crush Taco is still serving its full menu.
And to get creative, Assi said, family meals are now available. A build-your-own taco bar that serves 4-6 people comes with protein options, tortillas, garnishes, pico de gallo, salsa, chips and queso, he said.
“We’re delivering on the promise of great food and being safe and sanitary,” Assi said.
Assi has shifted employee responsibilities to keep staffing afloat, especially after the restaurant lost all its upcoming catering orders in one day. More employees are now packaging food for to-go orders, walking over curbside orders or driving deliveries, he said.
While Crush Taco has been able to stay open, other small restaurant businesses in Frisco have made the decision not to, Assi said.
“The restaurant business in general is very difficult,” he said. “The restaurant business is now almost insurmountable. Some people have chosen to close their doors and to see what is going to happen after the storm we’re in.”
In an effort to support other local businesses, Assi has partnered with local vendors to give back to Frisco. On April 3, Crush Taco collaborated with the Allen Brothers steakhouse to sell protein boxes, featuring ribeyes, filet tips, burger patties and cocktails to-go, he said.
The restaurant will partner with Hardie’s Fresh Foods on April 4 to offer 10-pound boxes filled with produce and foods that are currently hard to find in stories, such as tomatoes, onions, garlic, lettuce mixes, eggs and chicken, Assi said.
Though times are uncertain, Assi said he is hopeful for the future of Crush Taco and the visions for the restaurant’s brand.
“Right now, we’re taking it a day at a time and doing our best to be creative and offer the same quality food that guests are used to,” he said. “I feel if we continue on the path that we are on right now that we will be successful.”
