QDOBA Continues Its Expansion With 2 New Locations in Arizona. Here Are the Details.

QDOBA is continuing its nationwide expansion by opening two new locations in the greater Phoenix area of Arizona. These locations are the latest in the Tex-Mex chain’s expansion efforts. Here are the details.

QDOBA Expands Footprint in Arizona

According to Chain Store Age, with the launch of two additional facilities in Phoenix and Scottsdale, QDOBA plans to increase its footprint in Arizona.

The new locations will be the first standalone restaurants in the state, joining on-campus dining options at Grand Canyon University and Arizona State University.

It is anticipated that the two eateries will debut in January. About 80 additional jobs will be added to the local economy when these new eateries open.

Both eateries will have 2,000 square feet of indoor dining, with Phoenix adding 1,000 square feet for outdoor dining and Scottsdale adding 1,500 square feet with a fireplace. To accommodate different tastes and dietary requirements, QDOBA offers a menu that includes burritos, bowls, tacos, quesadillas, nachos, and salads.

Customers can use QDOBA’s website or mobile app to place orders at these additional locations in Arizona for added convenience. Over the next 10 years, the company intends to almost double the number of restaurants it now runs in North America, which stands at about 800.

“QDOBA is an exceptionally well-positioned brand in one of the most attractive restaurant categories with the Greater Phoenix area offering significant growth potential,” said Chief Development Officer Jeremy Vitaro in a statement announcing the latest expansion. “We are excited to bring our delicious, bold flavors, freshly prepared food, and everyday value to local residents for the first time.”

According to Vitaro, the restaurant intends to open up to 10 locations in the Arizona-Southwest area over the next two years.

Ongoing Expansion

These efforts are part of the ongoing expansion of the growing Tex-Mex chain, which first announced its efforts back in August following its win of USA Today‘s “Best Fast Casual Restaurant” award.

Highlighting QDOBA’s achievements in the cutthroat fast-casual dining business, the award is decided by public vote following the selection of contenders by a panel of industry experts. Due to its commitment to providing exceptional dining experiences, QDOBA has consistently received accolades for its fresh ingredients and personalized Mexican menu.

“To our fans that have voted for us for six consecutive years — you are what drives us to continue innovating flavor-forward menu options that keep you coming back for more,” said Jon Burke, vice president of marketing. “Achieving this award over the past six years reflects the excellence QDOBA delivers daily by our talented team members and growing number of franchise partners.”

QDOBA, which has more than 750 stores in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico, is concentrating on franchise expansion in strategic regions like Arizona, Georgia, and Texas. The business’s success and ongoing recognition show that it can adapt to changing customer demands while upholding high standards.

Following this accolade, QDOBA announced plans on Aug. 8 to open 39 new franchise locations in the U.S., per Eat This, Not That!, which would double its current number of restaurants and be a major step toward its goal of reaching 1,500 locations within the next seven years. In comparison, Chipotle currently runs more than 3,380 locations in 49 states and hundreds more in Europe.

Similarly, Del Taco defeated Chick-fil-A, which has always dominated this poll, to take the top spot in USA Today’s 2024 Readers’ Choice 10 Best Fast-Food Restaurant rankings. Due to supply chain issues, Chick-fil-A changed its chicken sourcing policy from a No Antibiotics Ever (NAE) standard to a new No Antibiotics Important To Human Medicine (NAIHM) standard earlier this year, which may have contributed to the company’s decline to third position. This shift seems to have affected its popularity despite its devoted clientele.