RETAIL : Sky’s the Limit for Wilhelm, Taco Bell Joint Venture, Business Partner Predicts

While news of the new joint venture between Taco Bell Corp. and Orange County restaurateur David Wilhelm raised some eyebrows, one of Wilhelm’s business partners predicts that the combination will succeed.

“With David’s design talent and food knowledge, they’ll be able to create the hottest Southwestern concept in the whole United States,” said Elie Samaha, owner of the Roxbury supper club in Santa Ana. “The sky’s the limit with David and (Taco Bell President) John Martin. I don’t think anybody will be able to touch these guys.”

Samaha has worked with Wilhelm for more than seven years. Wilhelm designed menus for several of Samaha’s restaurants as well as for the Roxbury night clubs.

Though Wilhelm is best known for upscale restaurants Diva, Bistro 201 and Kachina, he also knows how to be “competitive, . . . serving meals that are a very good value in a great atmosphere,” Samaha said.