Fronk had owned various restaurants in California before eventually moving back to the Capital District after 20 years in Los Angeles. He opened the Front Street Social Club in Burnt Hills, where McKenna would at times pitch in.
Following a trip across the state, McKenna became enthralled with the idea of a taco shop after visiting a spot in Rochester.
“They became so popular, then they opened a small shop,” McKenna said. “Seeing that kind of evolve and helping him and seeing his restaurant evolve, we just kicked around the idea like, ‘well, if we ever got the opportunity maybe we could do it in Burnt Hills,’ because Burnt Hills is kind of, I guess, lacking in a different kind of flair for food.”
So, the tduo really began considering the idea of their own taco place. Fronk’s wife, Jessica, is Hispanic and her family would spend Sundays cooking up chicken, carnitas or beef for tacos with fresh avocado, salsas and pico de gallo with the couple while they lived in LA.
“Every time we did it was just awesome, you know, and so it was just always in the back of my head,” Fronk said. “We always talk about it.”
The more the friends thought about it, they said they realized that there were many places to get Italian food in the area but not Mexican. Then, an old Stewarts building was up for sale and they decided within days to open up The Taco Shop. McKenna said all he had to do was convince his wife Jennifer.
“We talked about it, and like I said, when I saw that other small place go from taco truck to shop, I was just like, I know we can make it work because we’re both pretty artistic, pretty handy, creative, and I know his business side of things, owning previous restaurants,” McKenna said. “I was very excited to give it a shot, nervous, but very excited.”
The Taco Shop, located at 710 Saratoga Road, opened in October 2023, with help from McKenna’s dad Terry to set the place up.
Fronk said it’s not the hard shell and sour cream taco shop that some people might think of.
“So a traditional taco is meat and sauce,” Fronk said. “That’s it. It’s really meat, onion and sauce.”
Fronk noted that they offer more of an authentic Mexican and Baja style of taco.
“So when we say Baja, we’re really talking about southern California, a little bit of a fusion of southern California cuisine into authentic Mexican,” Fronk said.
Fronk said he recommends people try the Baja fish taco, while McKenna offered up the sweet cherry pepper.
The crispy baja fish features baja sauce, shredded cabbage and pico de gallo. The sweet cherry pepper is chicken, pork or beef featuring sweet cherry and roasted red pepper and baja sauce.
People can also indulge in burritos, nachos and quesadillas. The Taco Shop also offers catering.
Both men said their favorite part of the journey has been the creative freedom with the business, whether it’s the food they make or the way the shop is set up.
“There’s no predetermined plan on anything,” Fronk said. “Well, I mean, besides the business model and things like that. But, I mean, if we want to tear down a wall, or we want to do this, paint this color, whatever.”
Fronk said new menu items are coming, including additional taco flavors, guacamole and salad.
