It’s not unusual for customers to come out to pay tribute to a business when it closes. It IS unusual to wait 35 YEARS to do it.
On Sunday, there was a “funeral” in West Seattle, for a Taco Bell, that closed in 1991. (That was back in the “Make a Run for the Border” days, before “Think Outside the Bun” and “Yo Quiero Taco Bell”.)
The funeral was organized by a local artist who goes by the name “Sunday Nobody,” and it featured bagpipes, a crying contest, a 21-bell salute, and they even released a dove. (???) Locals dressed in black, and brought flowers and other offerings and “tokens of condolence.”
A local councilmember showed up, and said, “My deepest condolences to the West Seattle Taco Bell community. I stand with you during this trying time. Your grief is felt and I share in it. May this loss be a reminder to all of us to Live Más.”
The place is vacant now, but while it still looks a little like a Taco Bell, it’s been MANY restaurants since then, including a teriyaki place, a Japanese eatery, and four different Thai restaurants.
There are no plans to hold funerals for any of those establishments.
(Here’s a local news report.)
(Here’s footage from the funeral. And here’s UNCENSORED video of a woman talking about her experience being a pallbearer. If it’s already been 35 years, couldn’t they wait a couple more days for Cinco de Mayo?!?)
(KIRO 7)
