Local taco shop thrives as Meta's AI data center spurs regional growth

Tim Allen, whose family has long operated construction firms in Rayville, Louisiana, launched Holy Tacos in April 2025 to meet demand generated by Meta's new AI data center in Holly Ridge, about ten miles away. Initially planning a mobile food-truck operation, the venture secured a vacant building and converted it into a full-service restaurant capable of catering. Orders from the construction site and nearby “man camps” now generate between $4,000 and $7,000 per contract, representing roughly 40% of the shop's monthly turnover.

The presence of Meta workers has also prompted the reopening of other local stores, upgraded roads, and added traffic lights, reshaping the town’s economy. While the catering volume will likely fall after construction ends, Allen expects the new businesses to sustain the community’s revitalization.