Gladstone’s Taco Comeback: General Mills to Reopen La Tiara Plant, Because the City Deserves More Crunch 🌮

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GLADSTONE, Mo. — After what felt like a dark age of soft tacos and store-brand shells, Gladstone is getting its crunch back.

At Monday night’s City Council meeting, City Manager Robert Baer dropped the kind of news that makes every taco lover’s heart—and stomach—rejoice: General Mills plans to restart production at the La Tiara taco shell facility at 607 NE 69th St., with operations expected to resume in January 2026.

That’s right—after a long siesta, the beloved shell-maker is getting back to work. So dust off your seasoning packets, Gladstone. The taco tides are turning.

Residents might recall when the La Tiara site went quiet, leaving local grocery shelves a little sadder and Taco Tuesday a little less festive. But now, Gladstone officials say the company’s return could mean new jobs, renewed industrial buzz—and, most importantly, fewer broken shells at the bottom of your box.

“It’s always great when a business reopens,” Baer said at the meeting. “Especially one that makes something people actually enjoy eating.”

While details on hiring and production volume haven’t yet been released, one thing is clear: Gladstone’s 2026 is shaping up to be extra crispy.

So mark your calendars, taco enthusiasts. In a city where development projects can sometimes drag on like a bad burrito, this is one reopening worth celebrating—with salsa, guac, and maybe a little civic pride on the side.

In short: The taco shell drought is almost over. Gladstone’s getting its crunch back—one La Tiara shell at a time. 🌮