Chronic Tacos has signed multi-unit franchise agreements for 12 new locations in Colorado, three locations with the opportunity for 12 additional in Washington, and its first location in Phoenix with the opportunity for 14 additional Arizona locations. New California-based locations currently in development include Bakersfield, Costa Mesa, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Redlands, and Valencia. North Carolina will be Chronic Tacos’ first East Coast outpost with 3 new locations popping up in the state. Metrotown Mall in Burnaby, Canada, will also get to enjoy the Chronic Tacos experience this year.
Chronic Tacos was founded in 2002 by Randy Wyner, a serial entrepreneur and Newport Beach, California, local. Unimpressed by the service and quality of food found at the local taco shops, Wyner was inspired by a vacant piece of real estate and a craving for authentic Mexican cuisine. Turning his vision into reality, the doors opened at the California’s taco shop. Chronic Tacos has experienced rapid growth spreading up the West Coast and into Canada. Once the brand hit the Canadian marketplace, Wyner made a valuable friend, Mike Mohammed, who not only became a Chronic Tacos franchisee but also joined Wyner’s journey to help him build the Chronic Tacos franchise.
“When we met Randy in 2012, my brothers and I were immediately impressed by the strength of the concept and the fan base. Demand for Chronic Tacos seemed to be everywhere. When we joined the team as majority owners, we knew it was in our hands to take Randy’s idea and build it into a well-oiled machine,” says Mike Mohammed, CEO of Chronic Tacos. “With our business development experience, we were able to build a strong corporate franchise team, put the right systems and operational standards in place, support in practice, and growth strategy into play. With this, we established that the cornerstones to support the foundation of our brand must be consumer demand, franchisee commitment and corporate leadership. Through our dedication to these three elements, Chronic Tacos is a strong brand concept sustainable for future growth.”
On the heels of multi-unit franchise agreements in Arizona, Colorado, and Washington, company plans call for more than 10 new locations in 2015. Opening nearly one location per month, Mohammed plans to double the company growth with 20 new restaurants per year moving forward, projecting more than 100 locations by 2018.
Led by Mohammed and his brothers, Wyner’s Chronic Tacos brand has emerged in 2015 with a revised growth strategy and renovated business processes that have attracted the attention of new multi-unit investors. Meanwhile, consumers appreciate the rebranding and consistency of the fresh, authentic Mexican cuisine, which is made to order from an eclectic menu.
“When my fiancé and I first heard about Chronic Tacos from friends who raved about the concept and quality of the food, we realized there was a huge demand for this type of cuisine and dining experience in our own local market. Having been in the industry as former Vice President of a Seattle-based company, I knew the steps to take in evaluating the opportunity,” says Keith Hayward, military veteran and Chronic Tacos multi-unit owner in Washington. “After spending time with the Chronic Tacos leadership team, we were impressed with the systems and support in place for franchisees and military veterans like myself.”
Over the next three years, Hayward will be introducing Chronic Tacos to the state of Washington with three locations in Tacoma and the surrounding communities. “We’re looking forward to the reception from our neighbors and local community. We are excited to be part of the Chronic Tacos revolution and proud to be part of the continued expansion of the Chronic Tacos brand,” Hayward says.
