March 13, 2024

A former bank building in Worthing is being transformed into a taco shop that will showcase artists and serve as a community gathering space.

Dean Marshall, who owned The Big Orange Food Truck, and former employee Austin Metivier are starting The Taco Vault.

“It will be an artistic approach to a taco pub,” Marshall said, noting that it will be family-friendly. The building is on Main Street across from the Olde Towne Dinner Theatre.

The menu will focus on tacos like those Marshall served on the food truck, and the pub will sell beer and wine.

The business partners are envisioning serving drinks out of the former bank vault, which is still protected by a solid metal door.

The kitchen will be open to the dining area, and Marshall wants to put up a partial wall that’s designed to look like the kitchen is inside a food truck.

The entire space will have a modern industrial look, he said.

Each month will feature the works of a different artist, and 10 percent of those sales will go to fine arts programs for schools in the area, Marshall said. The artists won’t have to pay a fee to the restaurant to use the space.

“We want to keep the community involved and showcase what we have in the community,” he said.

They also want it to be a destination dining spot since Worthing is just about 10 miles from the south side of Sioux Falls.

The lower level will include a small stage for comedians and solo music acts. It will have games and be a relaxing place for “everyone to come hang out.”

Marshall hopes The Taco Vault becomes a place where students come to do homework or fantasy football leagues host draft parties.

“That’s the vibe we’re going for. Bring people together. Have fun. That’s us.”

Metivier grew up in Worthing and sees The Taco Vault as a way to help grow the community.

“Our goal is to give people a reason to come to Worthing. We want to grow Worthing, expand Worthing. We really want to bring this town back to what it could be. As a guy who grew up here, it was a lot more popping when I was younger, a lot more people coming in and a lot more things happening,” he said. “So if we can bring that back, bring back people that kind of grow the town, help everyone here out, help the businesses, that’s our goal.”

The business partners hope to open the restaurant in early May.