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When you speak to Osiris Hoil, Co-founder of District Taco, you can feel the humble sincerity in his recollection of how it all began. There is a nostalgic appreciation for all that he and his partners have accomplished and a deep gratitude for the love of cooking his mother instilled in him as he grew up.

Looking back to the day when Osiris and his co-founder, Marc Wallace, first started discussing a partnership, the backdrop of the story lends a sense of serendipity. Osiris was between jobs at the time, living at his mother-in-law’s house. His son was a toddler, and he had a daughter on the way. He needed a job, pronto. Marc, who lived next door, had the skills, the background, and most importantly, the access to capital that Osiris lacked.

From Software to Tacos: Co-Founder Marc Wallace Brings the Soft Skills

Co-Founder Marc Wallace, Chairman of the Board of Directors, brought a different set of skills to the partnership. A successful software entrepreneur who had recently sold his company, Marc had the experience and background needed to run a business. He was confident that Osiris’s food was good enough to start a restaurant and knew he could lend the business expertise that would allow Osiris to focus on the food.

The partners decided to start small with a food cart, and in 2009, the first District Taco cart hit the streets of Rosslyn in Arlington, Virginia.

They started by serving only breakfast—a bold choice that proved to be a wise one. Before long, they began offering lunch specials. After a successful first couple of seasons serving pedestrians in DC, they signed a lease for their first brick-and-mortar location in early 2010. That summer, they hired Chris Medhurst.

A Rise to Leadership: The Chris Medhurst Story

At the time, Chris Medhurst, now President and COO of District Taco, had just been hired by Wells Fargo. He moved to DC, found a place to live, and signed a lease. But before his first day at the bank, 6,000 people, including Chris, were laid off.

Once again, serendipity played a role. His landlord, a friend of Osiris and Marc, told Chris about the food truck they had started and suggested, “Why don’t you work for them for a while so you can keep paying us rent?” What was supposed to be a temporary gig turned into a career. Since Chris joined the team, District Taco has opened restaurants in DC, Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey, with locations in New York and Florida set to open later this year. To date, Chris has helped grow the brand to 13 corporate restaurants and 5 franchise locations.

The Roots: Where it All Began

When Osiris speaks of his childhood in Yucatán, he fondly recalls the sense of community he felt growing up. It was not a wealthy community but a farming one, where everyone worked together and contributed to a shared sense of belonging. That is the culture Osiris has brought to the District Taco family.

Promoting from within is a core part of that culture. In fact, the Franchise Support Team is led by individuals who have been part of District Taco since its earliest days.

Training and support have been priorities for District Taco leadership from the very beginning. Today, their Franchise Support Team comprises more than 25 members, providing expertise in areas such as real estate, architecture, software development, marketing, and IT. This team guides both corporate and franchise development.

In addition to Osiris, Marc, and Chris, the Board of Advisors includes industry experts like Sam Chamberlain, COO of Five Guys Burgers, and Paul Robinson, a finance specialist.

District Taco initially planned to remain corporate. But the pandemic prompted a shift in strategy. A casual conversation with a friend experienced in franchising convinced Osiris that franchising could be both a viable and lucrative option. The success of their King of Prussia location proved the concept could thrive outside the DC area. With that, it was full steam ahead. Today, there are over 70 franchise locations in development, set to open over the next 5–10 years—a common timeline for multi-unit franchise investors.

The Spadea Lignana System: Streamlined for Success

Osiris credits Spadea Lignana with helping to simplify the franchising process. “We used to pay an attorney by the hour, and it felt like we were doing the same thing every year. Shouldn’t there be a better way to do this?”

Spadea Lignana’s systemized approach has made it easier for District Taco to manage key aspects of franchising. Through their client portal, the team can check state registration statuses or see if franchisees have downloaded the Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD). Their streamlined process has made franchising more efficient for District Taco.

Advice for Entrepreneurs

When asked what advice he would give to entrepreneurs starting their franchising journey, Osiris shared:

“To anyone starting off, I would say fasten your seatbelt. It can be a wild ride at times, but it’s incredibly rewarding to see a business you built with your own hands take off. Most importantly, choose the right people and the right partners. You can’t do it alone. You need a strong team to succeed.

Last but not least, never give up. Believe in your dream, and others will follow.”