The #2 Mexican fast-casual franchise brand in the United States just made two major moves in one day. On July 8, 2026, QDOBA Mexican Eats announced a pair of new franchise development agreements covering 50 restaurants in Atlanta and Nashville, while franchisee B Wild Investments completed a significant acquisition and expansion commitment in the Pacific Northwest, bringing the total pipeline to over 100 new locations.
QDOBA and its franchise partners currently operate more than **865 restaurants** across the United States. The franchise concept brand has set a long-term target of roughly **2,000 locations** within eight years, with a goal of opening **100 restaurants annually** and raising the proportion of franchised units to **85%** of its total system. The announcements of July 8 represent a concentrated step in that direction.
50 New Locations Planned for Atlanta and Nashville
QDOBA signed two separate development agreements on July 8, each covering a distinct market in the southeastern United States. The first targets **Atlanta**, and the second covers the **Nashville** metro area. Together, the deals call for the opening of **50 new QDOBA restaurants** across those two cities. The brand described its development partners as proven multi-unit operators with strong track records in other franchise systems. “We’re thrilled to partner with proven franchise operators who share our people-first culture, exceptional standards for guest service and commitment to disciplined growth,” said Jeremy Vitaro, Chief Development Officer of QDOBA. “Together, we’re bringing QDOBA’s bold flavors to more communities across the U.S.”
B Wild Investments Expands Its QDOBA Footprint in the West
Alongside the two southeastern deals, B Wild Investments, LLC, through its affiliate 7 Star Eats, completed the acquisition of **22 QDOBA restaurants** in the Pacific Northwest. With that transaction, 7 Star Eats now operates **42 QDOBA locations** across Alaska, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, and Washington, becoming one of the brand’s largest franchise groups. The acquisition also comes with an expanded development commitment: 7 Star Eats has agreed to open an additional **63 units** across Colorado, Utah, Washington, Nevada, and New Mexico. That single operator’s contribution alone accounts for a substantial portion of the pipeline QDOBA is building in the western United States.
A Franchise-First Growth Strategy
The Mexican fast-casual category has been among the more resilient segments of the restaurant industry in recent years. QDOBA positions itself as the second-largest brand in that category behind Chipotle, and has been actively recruiting multi-unit operators as it works to shift more of its system toward franchisee ownership. The brand has stated an interest in non-traditional venues as well, including airports, universities, and military bases, as part of a broader effort to grow unit count without relying solely on conventional dining footprints. The July 8 agreements reflect a model centered on large-scale commitments from established operators rather than single-unit growth.
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