Cookeville, TN is an apt location for MRCO’s recently opened Taco Bell restaurant. Located on the Tennessee Tech University (TTU) campus, we’re excited to bring delicious tacos and sustenance to Golden Eagle students!
“College students tend to love their tacos and Baja Blasts!”
– Ashley Shockley, Area Coach
In order to build hype for this grand opening, we asked a couple of local students to wear Taco Bell’s famous “Saucy” costume and hand out coupons to passersby. The restaurant concept for this particular Taco Bell is referred to as a “cafeteria unit” meaning there is no drive-thru and business relies primarily on foot traffic – not hard to come by with so many students nearby! This location marks the first one of its kind for us on a university campus.
We checked in with Area Coach Ashley Shockley to see how the Tennessee Tech Taco Bell has performed since its August 2025 opening.
“So far the on-campus crowd has been really fun to have,” Ashley shares. Sales are exceeding expectations, despite challenges posed by school breaks and holidays (which leave the campus quiet).
The Tennessee Tech Taco Bell is led by Restaurant General Manager (RGM) Laura Smith, who was promoted especially for the TTU location. With 15 years of Taco Bell experience and eight with MRCO, she’s perfect for this role.
Stop by and visit!
1000 N Dixie Ave
Cookeville, TN 38505