UPDATE: Overflow Crowd at Taco Bus on Opening Day in St. Pete

ST. PETERSBURG - There was something different about the Grand Central business district at noon Monday: the crowds.

Dozens of people lined up on the sidewalk outside of the new Taco Bus restaurant for their turn to order burritos, enchiladas and other Mexican dishes, on the diner's first day of business in St. Petersburg.

Taco Bus 2 opened its doors at 11 a.m., offering the same menu of Mexican "street food" that the original Tampa diner serves. The new restaurant is located at 2324 Central Ave.

Monday, customers texted on their cell phones and read paper menus as they waited to order from the St. Pete Taco Bus. Tacos, burritos and quesadillas are among the offerings; fillings include grilled steak (carne asada), chicken (pollo) and pork (puerco asado).

The new diner is located on the outskirts of St. Petersburg's downtown, in a business district of new restaurants, boutiques and galleries that steadily have been replacing rundown and neglected stores.

Business owners in the area have been struggling to make the Grand Central District more appealing and a destination for shopping and dining.

Taco Bus 2 seemed to accomplish that just by unlocking its doors and welcoming customers for lunch Monday. Whether people will linger to shop at neighborhing stores remains to be seen.

Owner Rene Valenzuela said that his loyal St. Petersburg customers -- who have ventured across the bridge regularly to eat at the -- convinced him to open the second diner. He added that city leaders have been welcoming to his business.

The incredible popularity of Tampa's Taco Bus -- which uses a gutted school bus as the kitchen and for counter service -- is a testament to Valenzuela's hard work and culinary skills.

Valenzuela said he has tried to keep the restaurant layout and appeal simple, like the Tampa-area Taco Bus. The wood booths inside the restaurant have tiled table tops for easy cleaning. Outdoor seating is next to the street, on wood tables.

Taco Bus 2 has the signature bus out front at the new place, but it looks more like a modern delivery van than the Ken Kesey-esque school bus that sits in the parking lot at the Seminole Heights shop.

Valenzuela will be at the St. Pete diner today, managing, cooking and helping to serve. Nothing fancy, the diner will have walk-up window and table service. Unlike the Tampa area operation, Taco Bus 2 will serve cerveza and wine.

Taco Bus has an economic appeal in these tough times. The food is cheap. The diner offers extra-large burritos for $5.99 and lunch specials for $7.50. The Breakfast Meal Deal of two tacos or one burrito is $4.99. Servings, with rice and beans, are ample.

Hours for opening day will be 11 a.m.-9 p.m. After that Taco Bus will be open from 7 a.m.-9 p.m. every day but Friday and Saturday, when it will be open 24 hours. That's right the Mexican eatery will have the same overnight hours on weekends that it has every day in Seminole Heights.