Bandit - Tacos & Coffee

Ownership

Gilbert "Gil" Altschul is the primary owner with his brother Ben as co-owner handling finances. This is an independent, Madison-resident owned business with no corporate or franchise structure.

Local Sourcing

While Bandit initially sourced corn from Mexico, that changed over its first year in business and now its corn primarily comes from Wisconsin farms. The restaurant gets red and blue corn from Driftless Organics in Soldiers Grove and other varieties from Meadowlark Organics in Ridgeway.

Community Involvement

Bandit hosts a rotation of DJs every Thursday, Friday and Saturday night from 7 to 10 p.m. and Altschul worked with local artists and woodworkers, with custom tables from a walnut tree grown on a former employee's family farm and neon signage by local artist Tom Zickuhr. Some engagement but limited nonprofit/school sponsorship documentation.

Local Workforce

While no direct reviews of Bandit's labor practices were found, owner Gil Altschul has a documented history of workplace issues. In a 2018 incident, Altschul condoned employee actions that degraded a former employee, suggesting a culture that applauds degrading behavior. This raises concerns about the current work environment at his businesses.

Revenue Retention

Other family businesses include Tip Top Tavern, North Street Cabaret, Lazy Jane's Café and Bakery and Mickey's Tavern, suggesting revenue reinvestment in local Madison operations. The independent ownership structure indicates most revenue likely stays local rather than flowing to corporate headquarters.

Local Presence

The site includes Madison/WI references, a local phone number, and personality-driven copy ('Thoughtful tacos,' 'PARTY ON!'), but is significantly weakened by the phrase 'CHECK OUT OUR OTHER CONCEPTS' which signals multiple locations/corporate expansion and lacks owner names, staff personalities, or named local suppliers.