Naugles returns after 26 years thanks to trademark lapse on Del Taco's part

[Dan Druff]

http://la.eater.com/2015/7/28/906070...opens-today-in

This was a well known chain in southern California in the 1980s.



There were more than 200 Naugles locations, but they were bought by Del Taco and converted into that brand.

Naugles ceased to exist, save for a few items that Del Taco "stole" from the menu and incorporated into theirs.

The dumbasses forgot about the Naugles brand, though, and forgot to renew the trademark. A huge Naugles fan grabbed it, and after a 5-year court battle, he won, and now a single Naugles is opening in Fountain Valley, California.

[Zap_the_Fractions_Giraffe]

It's back for now, but soon...

[desertrunner]

This thread deserves a 5+ year bump and update. I will share what I know...

- Growing up in Huntington Beach, I visited the then Naugles at Brookhurst and Hamilton Streets, now a Del Taco.

- As Druff wrote, there was a "test kitchen" in Fountain Valley, I dont know if its still open or not since the legit Stanton location is now open.

- I did visit their semi legit location on the actual beach of HB about 3 years ago. The food then was not as good as I remembered. I assume its improved over time.



- For years, there has been an independent fast food restaurant called BT's Buns and Torts in central CA that has mirrored Naugles food as the rumor is a Naugles relative or family member brought the recipes over there. A link to BTs in Visalia- https://www.visitvisalia.com/account/bts-bun-torts

- Naugles now has a legit fast food drive through in Stanton, CA (Orange County). I expect more locations coming soon.



- Some Las Vegas history, there WAS a Naugles in Vegas in the 1980s. Over the last few years, this one specific historic staircase picture has gotten more famous. I like it because it just blares "80s". Will Naugles return to Las Vegas, I think the owner told online a maybe in the future as they slowly grow.

[Dan Druff]

Good info. Too bad I'm not going to eat anywhere right now.

I wonder if this Naugles will survive the pandemic.

Are the menu items the same as back then, or is it just the same name?

[desertrunner]

Good info. Too bad I'm not going to eat anywhere right now.

I wonder if this Naugles will survive the pandemic.

Are the menu items the same as back then, or is it just the same name?

As you know, the fast food chains have been doing well during the pandemic as its one of the few places to get food on the spot. I assume they are doing well. Last night, the Chick Fil A in Folsom had about 100+ cars in the line to get food.

I also assume the menu is a s close to the original as possible.

Also, the guy that bought the Naugles name and opened the Stanton store is a FB friend, I will PM him and maybe he can be on the PFA show as a guest?

[desertrunner]

More info on the B&Ts in Visalia from a 2009 link-

You might wonder why I am mentioning a place in Visalia but it has some definite ties to a once prominent chain in Orange County. This has been mentioned in the comments of some of our Naugles entries before but Naugles lives on in a place called Buns & Torts in Visalia and is run by Jeff Naugle, who I believe is a nephew to Dick Naugle, the founder of the much loved Naugles chain. Buns & Torts really is Naugles but I believe they have to operate with a different name due to Del Taco owning the Naugles name now.

A faithful reader of our blog here, Eric, found out about this place during a conversation with me about Naugles and it just so happened that he was getting ready to take a trip with his family to Yosemite. On said trip he made a little detour off the freeway and found Buns & Torts and took a number of photos to share with us. Before he got back he e-mailed me.

Eric also confirmed that they have the old Naugles root beer shakes; if you don't see it on the menu then ask for it. We are still crossing our fingers that Del Taco will bring back the Naugles menu but until then keep in mind that Buns & Torts is authentic Naugles. Thanks to Eric and his family for accepting my commission to scout this place out and for sending all the photos in.When I talked with him after his trip he said that this place is "straight up Naugles," so Naugles fans should be sure to go there if they are in the area.

http://ocmexfood.blogspot.com/2009/08/buns-torts.html


The other commercial I actually remember seeing in the 80s...

[desertrunner]

[desertrunner]

Bump, I went to the Stanton location recently for the second time and was not so impressed with my food. Will try again.

Also, they just opened up their second full service location in Artesia, CA (LA County).

Some random history- This private picture was taken in LAS VEGAS, NV. I dont know how many locations Naugles had in Nevada, but know there was atleast 1 in Vegas.

[desertrunner]

Update- I just spoke to the Naugles CEO/owner on the phone just now and he corrected me. There were THREE Naugles locations in Las Vegas in the past.

Druff is a Vegas buff like me, so this important to share and be accurate on.

[desertrunner]

Right now I am in Central California and this BY’s was modeled after the old Naugles shops. The food is pretty close, even down the the salsa cups.

Some history- When the new Naugles owner got started, he came to BT’s to observe the operation, take notes, etc. This place is literally the In N Out Burger of Mexican fast food- quick, good quality and cheap price.



BT’s even uses the old Naugles motto and tag lines…

[desertrunner]

Some Las Vegas Naugles history-

This personal pic was taken in Las Vegas and has held some historic value.

[desertrunner]

UPDATE- Right at the 10 year mark, it looks like the guy is going to walk away from the Naugles ownership.

Christian and I have been in touch over the years and I asked him why on Facebook and here is what he wrote back-

Getting really tired of dealing with it.

Lots of expectations from many people and I haven't been able to fulfill all of it and can never get my partners to grasp the vision.

I actually wanted to invest in the venture, but after ordering food there twice, I just wasnt interested, not a good reproduction.

[desertrunner]

UPDATE- Unfortunately, the Naugles re-birth was a fail. This was posted yesterday.

[Dan Druff]

UPDATE- Right at the 10 year mark, it looks like the guy is going to walk away from the Naugles ownership.

Christian and I have been in touch over the years and I asked him why on Facebook and here is what he wrote back-

Getting really tired of dealing with it.

Lots of expectations from many people and I haven't been able to fulfill all of it and can never get my partners to grasp the vision.

I actually wanted to invest in the venture, but after ordering food there twice, I just wasnt interested, not a good reproduction.

I was afraid this was going to be the case.

Reviving a dead-but-once-beloved brand requires going beyond just acquiring the brand itself. People have to like what you're actually selling.

It looks like this Christian guy wanted to spend more money on ingredients (and maybe help), in order to replicate the old quality Naugles experience, while his partners likely just wanted to make cookie-cutter tacos and keep costs as low as possible.

This probably led to all kinds of fights, especially when the food simply wasn't good (as verified by desertrunner, who wanted to like the place), and presumably the place wasn't doing well.

Now you guys know why I have no partners at PFA! And this isn't even a for-profit business!

When you have strong opinions about the way you want things done, you're far better off going it alone, or at worst finding silent partners to invest in your vision.

I'm guessing this Christian guy didn't have the $$$ to restart Naugles, so he solicited partners who demanded a say in how things were run, and their visions simply never aligned. That was a recipe for disaster.

I'm glad you didn't invest in this, desertrunner. The restaurant business (even fast food) is TOUGH, and it's even tougher when you're investing in the unknown, which this definitely was.

Sad!

[Dan Druff]

I never got down there to try it.

I would have if it were either close by, or somewhere I pass with any kind of regularity.

I simply don't go to Orange County. Despite being one of the few (partially) Republican areas in southern California, I just could never relate well to OC. The people, the vibe, the generic-looking atmosphere of the place... it just wasn't my thing.

I even noticed this when dating, as far back as the late '80s. I could relate to girls from LA, the San Fernando Valley, even the outlying areas like Newhall and Simi Valley. But whenever I tried to date chicks from OC, it just didn't work out. There's a certain general arrogance from that area which irritates me.


When I visited my dying friend Trevor in the hospital there earlier this year, I realized how long it had been since I went to OC for anything but Disneyland.