A major fast-food handoff has taken place across the Western Slope, as The Business Times reported that ColCal Colorado Inc. has sold its 10 Taco Bell franchise locations in Mesa, Delta, and Montrose counties.
ownership of the regional restaurants transferred to Alvarado Restaurant Nation, a Denver-based firm that operates more than 200 Taco Bell and KFC sites. The transaction officially took effect on October 21, 2026, ending nearly half a century of operation by the Basinger family, who owned and managed ColCal Colorado Inc. during their decades in business across western Colorado.
The sale reshapes the ownership of several prominent fast-food sites serving daily commuters, students, and local workers across three counties. The portfolio of transferred restaurants includes five locations in Grand Junction, two in Montrose, and single locations in Fruita, Clifton, and Delta. For residents in Mesa County and neighboring communities, the daily operation of these ten popular drive-thrus now falls under the umbrella of one of Denver's largest franchise operators.
According to a news release issued by ColCal Colorado Inc., the business legacy began in 1977 when Ken Basinger first started working for Taco Bell. Over the course of his early career, Basinger worked his way up through the corporate structure to gain the operational experience required for franchise ownership. By 2012, Basinger became the sole owner of the regional franchise, managing and expanding the Western Slope locations alongside members of the Basinger family until the sale closed this fall.
In their public announcement regarding the transition, the Basinger family offered sincere appreciation to the regional employees, local customers, and Western Slope community members who supported their family business over its 49-year history. The family framed the transaction as both the conclusion of their long personal journey in local business ownership and the start of a fresh chapter for the brand in the region.
The buyer, Alvarado Restaurant Nation, brings extensive experience in the fast-food franchise sector back to the Western Slope market. The Denver-based company opened its very first Taco Bell location in downtown Denver in 1984, according to its official website, before expanding its footprint to include more than 200 fast-food locations across the region over the subsequent decades.
While ownership has transferred to the Denver-based firm, the ten locations across Grand Junction, Fruita, Clifton, Delta, and Montrose continue to serve their respective communities under the new corporate leadership team.