We opened a taco shop because Meta is building an AI data center nearby. Now 40% of our business is tied to it.
Tim Allen and his family decided to open a restaurant after Meta announced plans to build an AI data center near their hometown in rural Louisiana.
The Allen family, owners of Holy Tacos in Rayville, Louisiana, decided to open their restaurant after Meta began constructing a massive AI data center in Holly Ridge, a small community just 10 miles away. Tim Allen, the family's patriarch, explained that the construction has significantly contributed to the local economy's revival.
Rayville, once a thriving town with multiple businesses, has been in decline, with many establishments closing down. With Meta's arrival, old businesses are revitalizing, and new ones like Holy Tacos are opening.
The Allen family, once involved in construction, shifted to the food business after seeing an opportunity to cater to the growing needs of the community. They opened Holy Tacos in April 2025, initially as a food truck, which later transformed into a full-fledged restaurant inside a vacant building. This move provided catering services to major contractors and construction workers' temporary housing nearby.
Currently, 40% of Holy Tacos' monthly business is directly linked to Meta's AI data center, with catering orders ranging from $4,000 to $7,000. Despite the construction noise and dust, the restaurant has seen a significant increase in customers, including both Meta workers and local residents.
Written by urgent.news from Business Insider's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
