The Taco Shop opened in November of 1992 and quickly became not only a local Imperial Valley favorite but word of The Taco Shop spread throughout the country. Many truck drivers spread the word of the good food to other truckers and tales spread as far at the Canadian border, with an inspector there mentioning The Taco Shop. The restaurant became a daily routine for many local high school students, farmers and residents. In early 1999, Jim and Linda passed ownership of The Taco Shop to their daughter and son-in-law, Missy and Fernando Hernandez.

Although he no longer owned the Taco Shop, this didn't stop Jim from reporting to work on a daily basis. He enjoyed interacting with the customers, preparing the carne asada and picking up the supplies. He simply could not be pulled away from the place he loved to be. There were some minor changes throughout the years after the new owners took over but the Taco Shop remained a staple in the small community.

In 2003, shortly after celebrating the 10 year anniversary of the Taco Shop, Jim Birger Jr. passed away at the age of 63. Even though the Taco Shop still continues today, Jim's footprints have not only been left in the Taco Shop but the entire Holtville community as well and the man filling those prints will always be remembered and dearly missed. There is a small cactus garden memorial to Jim on the outside of the Taco Shop.