AIM Strategies, the Topeka-based development firm behind Iron Rail Brewing, The Pennant, and the Cyrus Hotel in downtown Topeka is bringing Latin flavor to West Ridge Mall this holiday season.
A Ta Co. popup location will open Nov. 30 on the southwest side of the food court and remain open through the end of December with limited weekend hours.
“This idea was formulated by the new owners of West Ridge Mall, along with AIM Strategies, to provide more options for Topeka for the holiday season,” said Ta Co. general manager Kyle Menaugh.
Advisors Excel co-owners Cody Foster and David Callanan purchased West Ridge Mall earlier this year. Foster is also the owner and founder of AIM Strategies. Menaugh said the addition of Ta Co. will benefit the mall itself by offering additional dining choices to holiday shoppers.
Only a handful of places are available to eat at across the mall right now, with one other dining establishment in the food court.
“We want to give people more reasons to come to the mall, especially people who don’t get a chance to eat at our restaurants downtown," Menaugh said. "Featuring our items on this side of town makes it more accessible and gives them a taste of what we’ve been working on."
He said the Ta Co. popup will offer a condensed version of the restaurant’s full menu and include such items as chips and queso, a variety of salsas, street corn, charro beans, sopaipillas and signature tacos.
“I would describe these as chef-inspired tacos,” said Menaugh. “We use fresh ingredients and elevated toppings. Our vegetables are fresh, not canned. And we use dried Mexican chiles and toasted, whole spices for additional flavor. We don’t cut corners, and take care to braise our meat, which makes it tender.”
Meat options at the Ta Co. popup include barbacoa carnitas, ground beef and chicken. According to Menaugh, price points will encourage flexible spending to keep eating at Ta Co. affordable. Guests can order mix-and-match tacos a la carte for about $10, or choose a meal ranging in price from $15 to $20.
Ta Co. in West Ridge Mall will be open 5-9 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturdays. Menaugh said he expects to employ between eight and 10 people throughout the holiday season.
“We have hired some staff," he said. "We’re still in the process of putting the staff together.”
The original Ta Co. restaurant, also an AIM Strategies holding, was at 801 Massachusetts St. in Lawrence. It closed its doors in May 2022.
“All of AIM’s commercial holdings are in Topeka, so it was the logical choice to move to Topeka,” said Menaugh.