Missoula Taco Bell and KFC Locations Temporarily Close

Temporary Fast-Food Drought on Missoula's South Side

The south side of Missoula has fewer fast-food choices right now, at least temporarily. 

Taco Bell's Renovation Challenges

If you’ve driven down Brooks Street lately, you’ve probably noticed that the Taco Bell has been under construction for a while now. At first, it wasn’t much of an inconvenience because the restaurant kept the drive-thru open during most of the remodel work, even after the main entrance was closed.

READ MORE: Don’t Be Surprised When A Computer Greets You At Missoula Drive-Thrus

But recently, that changed. Driving by recently, I noticed a sign posted at the location saying the restaurant is now completely closed while construction continues. 

A Glimpse of Hope: Taco Bell's Reopening Timeline

The good news is that it doesn't sound like the closure will last too long. I reached out to the north Reserve Street Taco Bell location and spoke with Natalie, who said they’ve been told the Brooks Street restaurant could reopen in about two to three weeks once construction is finished. Of course, construction timelines can always change, but hopefully, the location will be fully back open sometime within the next month. 

Missoula has other Taco Bell locations, on East Broadway and North Reserve, while the Brooks Street location is under construction. Taco Bell isn't the only south Missoula fast-food spot currently shut down. 

READ MORE: Missoula’s Jersey Mike’s Expands With New Southside Location

Just down the street, the KFC/A&W location on Brooks also appears to have closed temporarily. A sign outside the building says the restaurant is closed "for new building". 

Anticipating Changes: KFC/A&W's Temporary Closure

I had actually eaten there recently and noticed it looked like changes were coming, but I did not expect it to close so quickly. While there has not been an official response yet from KFC confirming details, the posted sign indicates the closure is temporary and tied to a full rebuild of the restaurant. 

Unlike Taco Bell’s remodel, this project will likely take much longer than just a few weeks. Building an entirely new restaurant could mean months before the location reopens. 

Honestly, that location has probably been due for an upgrade. The building has been there for many years, and a brand-new restaurant could be a big improvement for the restaurant and the south side of Missoula once construction is complete. 

The Future of Fast Food in South Missoula

The downside is there is only one KFC/A&W location in Missoula. While this location is being rebuilt, customers will either need to be patient or find a chicken alternative, until the restaurant reopens.

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For now, though, south Missoula residents will have a couple fewer fast-food options while the work is in progress.