A mural by Booker T. Washington students at Rusty Taco on Greenville Avenue on Wednesday, June 3, 2026, in Dallas.
Elías Valverde II/The Dallas Morning News
When high schooler Audrey Elbow ate at Greenville Avenue’s Rusty Taco last fall with her mom, she said, she thought the place looked like any other restaurant.
Her mom, Sherry Elbow, wanted to change that. As the restaurant’s marketing director, she knew that its founder, Rusty Fenton, used to paint breakfast tacos on the windows.
Audrey Elbow looked no further for a solution than her peers at Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts.
Article continues below this ad
“I’ve seen the art in our hallways,” she said. “And everyone at Booker is always looking for opportunities to be seen.”
The result was a mural painted on six windows at the entrance by Booker T. students Mairely Hernandez, Tahj Daniels, Lucas Sanchez and Holly Finch.
The students worked four Sundays in April and May, usually starting in the morning, for one to two hours a day. Each student designed a different part of the mural, which features tacos, the Dallas skyline and street name graffiti.
“I was trying to think of ways how this can really scream Rusty Taco,” said Daniels, who painted the graffiti. “Like you are welcome here to eat.”
Article continues below this ad
Sherry Elbow selected the students’ design out of three concepts she received.
“I’m confident that they got a real insight into what it’s like to work for a real client,” she said. She also said each student was paid $300 and could have as many tacos as they wanted while they were there.
The supplies, which were organized into a Lowe’s shopping list by the students, cost a little over $600. Leftovers will be donated to Booker T.
A mural by Booker T. Washington students at Rusty Taco on Greenville Avenue on Wednesday, June 3, 2026, in Dallas.
Elías Valverde II/The Dallas Morning News
Visual artist and Booker T. teacher Emmanuel Gillespie led the project and supervised the painting sessions.
Curious customers engaged with students while they painted the windows, and their reactions have been one of Daniels’ favorite parts of the project. “I really had a little bit of cloud nine when I heard the reviews,” he said.
Article continues below this ad
Audrey Elbow is hoping the mural will become a spot for social media photos, especially among people her age.
The mural has been a blessing, not just for customers. Employees enjoy the shade created inside the restaurant by the thick and colorful paint.
“It definitely helps cool it out,” said Mohammad Hussein, the store’s general manager, who started there a year ago. “This is the best thing I think that’s happened to the restaurant since I’ve been here.”
Sherry Elbow said conversations with Booker T. are ongoing around making this a yearly project. Until then, blue and green windows will make this Rusty Taco less like any other restaurant.
Article continues below this ad
Rusty Taco is at 4802 Greenville Ave, Dallas, and other locations. rustytaco.com.