Pedro and Judith Lua stand inside the new D’Lua Taco Shop in Bettendorf. CREDIT DAVE THOMPSON
A former McDonald’s fast food restaurant that has been empty for years is getting a new life and a new menu. D’Lua Taco Shop opened for business at 2460 State St., Bettendorf, on Monday, Sept. 30. “People are very happy to have Mexican food here. … They were used to having just hamburgers and fries,” […]
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A former McDonald’s fast food restaurant that has been empty for years is getting a new life and a new menu.
D’Lua Taco Shop opened for business at 2460 State St., Bettendorf, on Monday, Sept. 30.
“People are very happy to have Mexican food here. … They were used to having just hamburgers and fries,” Judith Lua said recently. She, along with her husband, Pedro Lua, own the new Mexican food restaurant.
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The new D’Lua Taco Shop in Bettendorf is located at the site of the former McDonald’s near downtown Bettendorf. CREDIT DAVE THOMPSON
An employee of the new D’Lua Taco Shop in Bettendorf serves up a meal. CREDIT DAVE THOMPSON
An employee of the new D’Lua Taco Shop in Bettendorf makes a meal. CREDIT DAVE THOMPSON
Here is a look inside the new restaurant.
Here is a look inside the new restaurant.
Here is a look inside the new restaurant.
D’Lua Taco Shop is the fifth area restaurant opened by the couple. They also own D’Lua Pancake & Burrito House, 3419 Avenue of the Cities, Moline; Old Mexican Restaurant, 610 45th St., Rock Island; D’Lua Fusion Cuisine & Bar, 5185 18t St.
Bettendorf; and D’Lua on the River, 1201 E. River Drive, Davenport. (More on those businesses can be found here.)
Those five businesses employ almost 90 people. The newest restaurant in Bettendorf has about 12 employees.
Even though the newest of the Lua family businesses has been open only a couple of weeks, it is off to a fast start. New customers are discovering the restaurant, and it’s in a good location that is near several businesses with employees looking for good meal options.
“We offer good options. … It’s easy and not expensive,” Ms. Lua added.
Some of the foodie favorites on the menu include street tacos and burritos. D’Lua Taco Shop also offers enchiladas, tamales, TexMex nachos, Boba tea, energy drinks and much more. In addition to food, the business has D-Lua hats, T-shirts and other items in a gift section of the restaurant.
Ms. Lua said that customers like the many food options, the quick service. “It’s all good food, but also fast,” she added.
Rave reviews for D’Lua
In addition to getting customers, the new business is getting rave reviews from the business community.
“Restaurants like Verde in our core, Siam Thai Cafe on the west side, and now D’Lua Taco Shop on the east side are welcoming newcomers to the other great establishments that call downtown Bettendorf home.
Each new business is contributing to the vibrancy of our downtown. Downtown Bettendorf’s renaissance will continue with plans for the West Bridge area and Leach Park updates. The best is still yet to come for downtown Bettendorf,” said Ryan Jantzi, executive director of the Downtown Bettendorf Organization, in an email to the QCBJ.
Ms. Lua also believes the best is yet to come for the D’Lua Taco Shop. She credits her great team of employees for helping make the restaurant a success and making it possible for her to “jump” from one business to another.
As far as the family’s newest business goes, the owners have some changes in mind. For instance, they plan to start a breakfast buffet with American food in the near future. They will also add a patio for outside dining next summer.
Currently, the interior of the restaurant is decorated with many positive message signs. Some of those signs and messages include:
“An ounce of D’Lua is worth more than an ounce of gold.”
“D’Lua makes the world go ‘round.”
“D’Lua is the best gravy.”
“Your D’Lua will find you.”
“We are not fast food. We are good foodfast.”
Family’s story featured
But the biggest interior decoration at the business covers much of a wall and tells the story of the family. It tells about when the couple met in Mexico. Pedro was a physical trainer and worked for the Mexican Tennis Federation. Judith worked as a key account sales manager for Procter & Gamble.
But they had the dream of opening a restaurant and working together. They opened their first restaurant in Mexico City in 2010.
By 2017, they had moved to Rock Island and taken over ownership of the Old Mexican Restaurant. In time, they opened four other restaurants in the Quad Cities.
“Together, we left our professions, to take a chance on a new restaurant career that led us to Rock Island. We are grateful we followed our destiny on this surprising adventure. It gives us joy that our restaurants have made it possible to give people a great place to dine with friends, family, and loved ones,” according to the family history decoration on the wall.
