Steve Ells founded Chipotle Mexican Grill. He launched the first location in Denver, Colorado, on July 13, 1993.

Origin Story

Inspired by the massive, foil-wrapped burritos from San Francisco's Mission District taquerias, Steve Ells—a Culinary Institute of America graduate—opened Chipotle as a side venture to fund his dream of a high-end restaurant. Using an $85,000 loan from his father, he converted a former Dolly Madison Ice Cream shop near the University of Denver into the original spot, initially aiming to sell just 107 burritos daily to break even. Shockingly, it hit 1,000 burritos per day within the first month, proving instant success and flipping his plans upside down.

Early Growth and Key Milestones

Chipotle's trajectory skyrocketed through strategic partnerships and public expansion:

  • 1993 : First store opens in Denver; rapid local buzz builds a cult following for fresh, customizable meals.
  • 1998 : McDonald's invests, fueling massive scaling from a handful of locations to nationwide presence.
  • 2006 : Chipotle goes public (IPO), with McDonald's cashing out over $1 billion on its stake, marking a pivotal liquidity event.

Ells served as founder, chairman, and CEO, steering the brand toward "food with integrity" using naturally raised meats and sustainable sourcing—a philosophy that defined its fast-casual revolution.

Ells' Background and Vision

Born September 12, 1965, Steve Ells honed his skills as a line cook under chef Jeremiah Tower at Stars in San Francisco, where Mission-style burritos captivated him during the early 1990s. Though he eyed fine dining, Chipotle's profitability shifted his focus, growing it into a global chain with over 3,000 locations by recent counts. Multiple viewpoints highlight his pivot: some see it as entrepreneurial genius, others note how investor backing (like McDonald's) accelerated growth beyond his solo vision.

Recent Context

As of 2026, Chipotle thrives under new leadership post-Ells' 2024 CEO return and exit, with ongoing innovations like rewards apps and sustainability pushes amid fast-casual trends. No major controversies tie directly to its founding, though past food safety issues (e.g., 2010s outbreaks) tested resilience—yet the brand's origin tale remains a startup legend.

TL;DR : Steve Ells created Chipotle in 1993 Denver from a burrito obsession, turning a $85K loan into a fast-casual empire.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.