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Taco Bell's Boozy Wicker Park Location to Hire Security Guards

Boozed-up burrito burglars beware: These guards will make sure no one leaves with their alcohol.

A rendering of Taco Bell Wicker Park
A rendering of Taco Bell Wicker Park
Courtesy of Taco Bell
Ashok Selvam is the editor of Eater Chicago and a native Chicagoan armed with more than two decades of award-winning journalism. Now covering the world of restaurants and food, his nut graphs are super nutty.

Apparently when it opens around mid-August, that boozy Taco Bell in Wicker Park will have guards. Pressure from city officials led the fast-food chain to promise to have an on-duty doormen, which means the first U.S. Taco Bell to serve alcohol will have a bouncer to prevent patrons from leaving the premises with their boozed-infused freeze or beer, according to DNAinfo.

That's not the policy in other countries where Taco Bell already already serves beer, like Spain. Heck, there's no security guard on-duty at Chipotle, a few blocks away on Damen Avenue, which also sells beer and is open until 10 p.m. But at Taco Bell, gadflies worry about underage drinking, and so persuaded the Bell to relent. The guard would be on duty Thursday though Sunday nights, as alcohol sales would shut down at 10 p.m. on most days and until midnight on Friday and Saturday. Food sales will continue even when alcohol sales cease, as denying patrons a 4th Meal is not Taco Bell's way.

Taco Bell officials weren't immediately available for comment, but all signs point to a mid-August opening at 1439 N. Milwaukee Ave.