Operations

El Pollo Loco heats up expansion plans in Colorado

March 1, 2021

El Pollo Loco Inc., a fire-grilled chicken and Mexican food chain, is planning its next wave of expansion in Colorado, according to a press release. Ten to 15 restaurants will open in the Denver area, and Colorado Springs will be home to up to five. Each will feature one of two new designs that cater to off-premise dining and will open over the next five years.

One design offers no indoor dining but has a take-out window, a dual drive-thru, parking for curbside pick-up and patio seating. The second prototype will have a smaller-than-typical dining room that opens up to an expansive patio. It will also feature a dual drive-thru and curbside pick-up parking spaces.

Both prototypes share an enhanced digitized experience featuring including "Pollo To Go" cubbies for mobile to-go and delivery orders, digital menu boards and GPS-enabled curbside pick-up.

This expansion is part of a broader growth initiative that will have the 478-unit chain open 140 = restaurants in select DMAs throughout the Western United States by 2026.

"The expansion announcement and impending unit growth is sure to appeal to the growing number of consumers looking for healthier options; consumers' growing demand for bolder, spicier flavors; and experienced franchise owners with the desire to be part of a strong franchisee family," Chief Development Officer Brian Carmichall said in the release.

El Pollo Loco is based in Costa Mesa, California, and has 478 restaurants in six states, with 282 of those owned and operated by franchisees.