The milestone site puts the brand on the way to its 2,000-unit goal.
QDOBA Mexican Eats, a promiment fast-casual Mexican concept throughout the U.S. and Canada, has celebrated the opening of its 400th franchise location in Brighton, Michigan.
This landmark opening underscores the brand’s development strategy to expand to 2,000 units; a figure it plans to achieve through a blend of existing franchisee growth, new franchisee acquisition, and corporate development.
“We were one of QDOBA’s earliest franchisees, so it means a lot to us to be a part of this celebrated opening,” said Greg Johnroe of Southwind Restaurant Group, a multi-unit QDOBA franchisee that began with the brand in 2005. “Of all the restaurants we’ve done, this one is special to us. The state-of-the-art drive-thru and streamlined kitchen layout are designed to give our customers new ways to engage with our freshly-prepared menu. We couldn’t be prouder to be a part of QDOBA and are excited to continue growing with the brand.”
Southwind Restaurant Group’s Johnroe and Kevin Egnatuk have 20-plus years of restaurant franchise experience, including owning and operating 19 Burger King locations in Michigan. “What initially attracted us to QDOBA was the quality of the food,” added Egnatuk. “We were lucky enough to eat at an early franchise location in Grand Rapids. From that point on, we knew we wanted to be a part of the brand.”
The 400th site embraces Brighton’s local vibe and features multiple brand innovations, including a new drive thru format and updated interior and exterior designs.
QDOBA also recently unveiled new restaurant build-outs to help promote varied growth, including ghost kitchen formats and smaller takeout footprints as low as 1,000 square feet.
“Talented and experienced franchisees like Greg, Kevin and their team are what make us who we are,” said Peter Ortiz, vice president of franchise development for QDOBA. “We are constantly working with our franchisees to create new ways to improve the customer experience, and we are proud that our 400th location is one that embodies many of our latest innovations.”
