The Original Taco House: A Portland tradition for 50 years

PORTLAND, Ore. - For five decades, The Original Taco House has served up fresh Mexican cuisine in Portland and on Tuesday they treated their customers to an all-day party to celebrate the milestone.

KATU dropped by the Northeast Portland location for the big bash and the place was hopping with folks helping owners Jeff and Nate Waddle, and their staff, honor the restaurant's long history in the Rose City.

You might not know this, but The Original Taco House restaurants on Southeast Powell Boulevard and Northeast 82nd Avenue are actually the legacy of Gene and Natha Waddle, the original owners of the famous Waddles restaurant with the big 'Eat Now' sign.

Both Gene and Natha have passed on and Waddles is now gone (it closed six years ago and is now a Hooters restaurant) but brothers Jeff and Nate, the couple's grandchildren, continue to live up to the family name and are the lifeblood behind The Original Taco House restaurants.

'Everyone Thought He Was Nuts'

"This was the second Mexican restaurant in the city," said Nate. "The first one was Poncho's down on Sandy. And they used to close during the summer, so we opened during the summer and the rest is history."

The family has been in the restaurant business for three generations and the Waddle brothers, whose parents have since passed on as well, are more than happy to carry on the legacy that their grandfather started back in the late 1930s.

"My granddad, he was a powerful person," said Jeff. "He had an imagination and a great sense of what people wanted. And one of his biggest things was to create an atmosphere where customers would feel like they were in your front room. He was real good about making sure the atmosphere was right."

"The first restaurant was in the American Bank building downtown in 1938," said Nate. "And then World War II broke out and they (my grandparents) moved to Bend and operated the Trailways depot station, the restaurant there."

Later, in 1945, the day the war ended, their grandfather opened Waddles, a drive-in coffee shop/restaurant at Jantzen Beach. It was a risky move because back then there wasn't much there.

"Everyone thought he was nuts for building where he did, right on the interstate into Vancouver," said Jeff. "There was nothing there."

But his grandfather had a vision and it paid off. Waddles became a popular stop along Interstate 5 and the 'Eat Now' sign with the duck became a famous Portland icon.

Waddles closed its doors in 2004 when its long-term lease came up. Maintaining the restaurant had become expensive and it needed work. And the Waddle family and the landlord were unable to agree on new terms.

The building where Waddles once stood nearly became a Krispy Kreme donut shop but the deal fell through and a Hooters restaurant ended up there instead.

Even with other restaurants to run, the decision to shut down Waddles was not an easy one for the family.

"It's sad because we grew up there," said Jeff. "It's our heritage. We keep thinking we're going to do it again and this economy took a turn on us."

"Yes, we still think we're going to build another Waddles," Nate said wistfully.

But before you get too excited about the possibility of another Waddles in Portland, Nate said he and his brother have to be realistic.

"We've talked about additional locations and another Waddles," he said. "But to build a place like that, you're going to spend a million and a half bucks. So we have to think - does that seem practical or could we scale it down, not to fast food, but a little smaller? And labor is huge, so you would want to make it as efficient as possible."

The Waddle family also operated a restaurant at the Portland International Airport before the new terminal was built. At the time, it was the only restaurant there and according to Nate, celebrities and other famous people who stopped to eat there would sign the wall. He said they still have that wall with all of the signatures on it.

In 1960, the Waddle family opened the first of its Original Taco House restaurants on Northeast 82nd Avenue, which was later followed by another one on Southeast Powell Boulevard, one in Gresham's Rockwood neighborhood (that restaurant is now gone) and one on Southeast McLoughlin Boulevard (this is now a La Caretta restaurant).

Back then, the restaurants were simply called 'The Taco House,' but when a competitor opened up a Mexican restaurant right across the street from the Powell Boulevard location, the Waddle family renamed their restaurants 'The Original Taco House.'

Back in the day, you could get an enchilada for 65 cents, a tamale for 75 cents and a tostado for 65 cents. A full combo meal would run you $1.45.

And if you happen to have an old Taco House menu from the 1960s with a 'Taco T' stamp on it, you might want to hold onto it because they're hard to find. The stamp was part of a promotion the restaurant ran back then - if your menu had the stamp, you got a free taco.

'It's a Tradition'

Nowadays, the Waddle brothers remain passionate about the restaurant business and have even expanded into selling their signature food to the wholesale market.

If you've ever wondered what exactly is inside 'The Annex' building located right next door to the Northeast Portland restaurant, that's the commissary, where the food is made and packaged before heading out the door.

Jeff runs the wholesale side of the family business and is excited about the future possibilities.

"Anytime you can have your own production and make menu items for your own restaurant, you're miles ahead of any competitor," he said.

"We haven't even tapped the capacity of our commissary," added Nate.

They also do catering for events big and small.

Moving in new directions is perhaps one of the reasons that business has been good these past few years, despite the sluggish economy. The Waddle brothers say their profits are actually up.

But for Nate and Jeff, it's more than just the food they sell in their restaurants, the wholesale operation and the catering they do that contributes to their ongoing success - they say it's first and foremost, customer loyalty.

"It's generational," said Nate. "I see customers that I knew as a kid and then I see their kids. It kind of makes you feel old because some of these babies, now they're bringing their kids in. It's a tradition."

"There is something that is special about The Original Taco House that, even in these times, there's memories and there's nostalgia," said David Ortman, who does finance and marketing for the Waddle brothers. "There's the way you feel when you're here."

"It's not rocket science," added Nate. "You treat people well, give them a good product, keep your places clean, have a friendly atmosphere and you're good."

'The Staff Is So Amazing'

The atmosphere at The Original Taco House makes it a great place to work, according to the restaurant's employees. There are long-timers that have been there for anywhere between 10 and 30+ years. And for the type of business that normally sees a high turnover with its workers, that says something.

"We have a phenomenal crew," said Nate. "We're blessed that way."

For Jo Banks, who has been working with the Waddle family for nearly 35 years, it's the feeling of family among the staff, the good times they have with customers, the work they do in the community and how well employees are treated that keeps her there.

"The one thing I can say about the Waddle family is that they are so phenomenal and amazing about their employees, about families, about giving people time off," she said. "And we have continued that throughout the years. It feels like a family."

And it's that kind of work environment, she said, that makes the staff give 110 percent in everything they do.

"I see our employees going the extra mile - like if we have an older person with a to go order they'll say 'we'll carry that out for you.' They just do that kind of stuff," she said. "So we're really lucky because the staff is so amazing."

Jo, who has an infectious smile that instantly makes you feel right at home the minute you walk in, worked at the Powell Boulevard location for 12 years, the Rockwood location for 20 years and today she is managing the Northeast 82nd Avenue restaurant. Over the years she has worked on the line making tacos, has been a cashier, has been a hostess, has waited tables and even spent time as a bartender in the Cantina.

"It's been great because I've been able to work my way up and support two girls and get them through college," she said. "So this really means a lot to me. And I cannot imagine working or doing anything else. I think I have the best job. It's never boring. It's never dull. And I am such a people person that I have a hard time sitting still very long. I think I'd be very sad in front of a computer all day."

And for Jo, the chance to work in the community on fundraising efforts for local schools is a real bonus. The Original Taco House puts on fundraisers that benefit kids in the Parkrose School District and nearby Madison High School. One of their projects is a program that helps raise money for the Sparrow Club, a group that was featured as one of KATU's 'Everyday Heroes' last year (watch the video).

"I just love kids," said Jo. "And what an exciting thing for us - working hand in hand with the community, raising money for schools, getting kids involved, getting parents involved and going to the schools."

'Their Fried Ice Cream Is My Favorite!'

Last week, we asked KATU Facebook fans to comment on their memories and experiences at The Original Taco House. Here's what they had to say:

• Pam - "Very good food... went there in the 70s and 80s."
• Sue - "I moved from the Bay area (home to great Mexican food) two years ago. We have tried several restaurants and this is our favorite!"
• Anita - "Gone to the one on Powell many times but not on 82nd - good food."
• Teri - "It's the only place that the entire family could agree on during our younger picky years! Love the Big Green Burrito! And the split dish with cheese and red sauce! Of course, you can't beat the Heavenly Taco. Nothing fancy, just good stuff!"
• Lisa - "Every time my girlfriend and I are able to have lunch, we visit the Cantina and enjoy a yummy lunch. Taco House has been my comfort food for as long as I can remember!"
• Andi - "Their fried ice cream is my favorite!"
• Marilyn - "My first date with my now husband back in 1973. Best food. Fun times."