Alvarado Takes Over 10 Western Colorado Taco Bells
Quick-service operators in western Colorado should note a change in ownership and management at ten established Taco Bell locations.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Openings & Closings
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The Basinger family sold ColCal Colorado Inc.'s 10 Taco Bell restaurants in Mesa, Delta and Montrose counties to Denver-based Alvarado Restaurant Nation. The sale transition officially took effect October 21, 2026, moving the locations to an operator that runs more than 200 Taco Bell and KFC units.
Why it matters
The transaction transfers operating control of ten Colorado quick-service locations to a larger multi-brand franchisee, a change that affects staffing, supplier relationships and local management for those sites. It follows a long family tenure, with Ken Basinger having started with Taco Bell in 1977 and become sole owner of the franchise in 2012.
ColCal Colorado Inc. operated 10 Taco Bell restaurants, five in Grand Junction, two in Montrose, and one each in Fruita, Clifton and Delta. Alvarado Restaurant Nation, which now holds them, operates more than 200 Taco Bell and KFC locations.
The players
Alvarado Restaurant Nation
A Denver-based franchisee that owns and operates more than 200 Taco Bell and KFC locations.
ColCal Colorado Inc.
The Basinger family's franchise company that owned and operated the 10 Taco Bell restaurants before the sale.
Taco Bell
The quick-service restaurant brand whose franchise locations are the subject of the sale.
The details
Franchise restaurant sales of this kind transfer the existing units, leases and operating agreements to a new franchisee, so the restaurants generally keep their brand and footprint while ownership and management change. For a multi-unit operator like Alvarado, acquiring established locations in a regional market can add scale without building new sites. The sale was announced by ColCal Colorado Inc. in a news release, and Alvarado acquired the 10 restaurants from that company.
Timeline
1977: Ken Basinger started his career with Taco Bell.
1984: Alvarado Restaurant Nation opened its first Taco Bell in downtown Denver.
2012: Ken Basinger became sole owner of the franchise.
October 21, 2026: The sale transition officially took effect.
Market Landscape
Ownership changes among Taco Bell franchisees move established units to operators with larger portfolios, as Alvarado's existing base of more than 200 Taco Bell and KFC locations illustrates. The transaction shows how a long-tenured family franchise can transition within the brand's franchise system to a regional operator.
Operators in Colorado's quick-service sector should note that franchise ownership transfers can change purchasing, staffing and vendor arrangements at the affected units. Businesses considering acquisitions of existing franchise locations should consult qualified counsel and an accountant on transfer terms and financing.
The takeaway
Franchise consolidation of this kind is worth tracking as a signal of how regional multi-brand operators are growing within a single brand system. Operators evaluating a similar transaction should review the transfer terms and lease obligations with qualified counsel before closing.
Further reading
For similar regional ownership changes, browse the Openings & Closings section for Colorado businesses.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Business Times.
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