History of Chipotle Mexican Grill in Timeline

By Popular Timelines Editorial Team · Updated: July 15, 2026

Chipotle Mexican Grill is a prominent American fast-casual restaurant chain specializing in tacos, burritos, and bowls. Founded in 1993 by Steve Ells, the company is widely recognized for its 'Food with Integrity' philosophy, which emphasizes the use of sustainably sourced, naturally raised ingredients without artificial flavors or preservatives. Chipotle operates thousands of locations globally, primarily across North America, and is known for its assembly-line style service that allows customers to customize their meals. Despite facing significant food safety challenges in the mid-2010s, the company underwent a successful strategic transformation under new leadership, focusing on digital innovation, robust mobile ordering, and drive-thru 'Chipotlanes.' Today, Chipotle stands as a major player in the restaurant industry, consistently noted for its high-growth business model and commitment to transparent, ethically sourced food production.

July 13, 1993: Founding of Chipotle

On July 13, 1993, Steve Ells founded the first Chipotle restaurant, aiming to utilize fresh ingredients in a fast-casual dining format after being inspired by the burrito shops of San Francisco.

1993: Opening of the First Chipotle Mexican Grill

In 1993, Steve Ells opened the inaugural Chipotle Mexican Grill location in a former ice cream shop near the University of Denver, using an $85,000 loan from his father to establish the business.

1995: Expansion of Chipotle Mexican Grill

During 1995, the company expanded its footprint by opening a second store location, utilizing the positive cash flow generated by the original restaurant.

1998: First Chipotle Location Outside Colorado

In 1998, Chipotle Mexican Grill expanded its footprint beyond its home state of Colorado by opening its first restaurant in Kansas City, Missouri.

1998: McDonald's Becomes Major Investor

In 1998, McDonald's Corporation became a major investor in the Chipotle chain, which at that time operated 16 locations, all situated within the state of Colorado.

1998: McDonald's Initial Investment

In 1998, McDonald's provided an initial minority investment into Chipotle, which acted as a catalyst for the company's growth, helping them expand from just 16 locations at that time.

2001: McDonald's Becomes Largest Investor

By 2001, McDonald's had increased its financial involvement to become the single largest investor in Chipotle.

March 2005: Monty Moran Appointed President and COO

In March 2005, Monty Moran transitioned into the leadership roles of president and chief operating officer at Chipotle, serving alongside Steve Ells, who continued to lead the company as chairman and CEO.

2005: Expansion Milestone

By the year 2005, the capital provided by McDonald's enabled Chipotle to significantly scale its operations, reaching a total of over 500 restaurant locations.

January 26, 2006: Chipotle Initial Public Offering

On January 26, 2006, Chipotle officially launched its initial public offering (IPO) after significant pre-market demand forced the company to raise its share price twice. The stock price doubled on its first day of trading, marking the most successful U.S.-based restaurant IPO since Boston Market.

October 2006: McDonald's Full Divestment from Chipotle

In October 2006, McDonald's completed its full divestment from Chipotle as part of a strategic shift to focus exclusively on its core restaurant brand, abandoning other ventures like Boston Market and Donatos Pizza. This move concluded an investment relationship where McDonald's saw a significant financial return, despite previous internal conflicts regarding operational strategies like drive-throughs and breakfast menus.

2006: McDonald's Full Divestment

By the year 2006, McDonald's had fully divested itself from Chipotle, during which time the restaurant chain had successfully expanded its footprint to include over 500 locations.

2008: Chipotle International Expansion

In 2008, Chipotle successfully expanded its operations beyond the borders of the United States for the first time by opening a new restaurant location in Toronto, Canada.

January 2009: Monty Moran Promoted to Co-CEO

In January 2009, Monty Moran, who served as the president and chief operating officer of Chipotle, was elevated to the role of co-CEO, sharing leadership duties with Steve Ells while maintaining his presidential responsibilities.

2009: Fastest-Growing Restaurant Ranking

In 2009, Chipotle Mexican Grill earned the eighth spot on the list of fastest-growing restaurant chains, a ranking determined by the significant increase in its U.S. sales over the preceding year.

December 2010: Chipotle Hires Chef Nate Appleman

In December 2010, Chipotle Mexican Grill expanded its culinary team by hiring renowned chef Nate Appleman to assist in the development of new cuisine for the company.

2010: Top Growth Ranking

Chipotle improved its standing in 2010 by climbing to the third position on the list of fastest-growing restaurant chains within the United States.

2010: ICE Audit of Minneapolis Restaurants

In 2010, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement audited Chipotle locations in Minneapolis, revealing that several employees used fraudulent documentation, which led to the termination of 450 workers in December 2010 and sparked local protests.

February 2011: Expansion of ICE Audit

In February 2011, ICE extended its employment audit to include 60 Chipotle restaurants located in Virginia and Washington, D.C., leading to the firing of 40 employees.

April 2011: Escalation of Government Investigation

In April 2011, the attorney general's criminal division in Washington, D.C. joined the investigation, while ICE agents conducted interviews at numerous locations, prompting Chipotle to hire legal counsel and former ICE official Julie Myers Wood to handle the situation.

2011: Consumer Reports Recognition

During 2011, Consumer Reports officially recognized Chipotle as the best Mexican fast-food chain, highlighting the brand's quality and customer appeal.

2011: Steve Ells and the America's Next Great Restaurant Investment

In 2011, Steve Ells served as a judge on the television program America's Next Great Restaurant and invested in ANGR Holdings. Chipotle committed to purchasing Ells' stake, supporting the company's operations, and providing $2.3 million in funding. The resulting winning concept, Soul Daddy, ultimately failed and closed its doors after only eight weeks of operation in 2011.

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April 2014: Chipotle Announces Menu Price Increases

In April 2014, Chipotle Mexican Grill announced its first menu price increase in nearly three years, citing rising supply costs for steak, avocados, and cheese. The price adjustments were scheduled to be implemented between the end of the second quarter and the end of the third quarter of 2014.

2015: Financial and Operational Milestones

In 2015, Chipotle reported a net income of US$475.6 million with a workforce of over 45,000 employees and a total count exceeding 2,000 restaurant locations.

2015: Chipotle Expands Mobile Delivery Partnerships

Throughout 2015, Chipotle broadened its digital strategy by forming delivery partnerships with tech startups. A notable collaboration included working with Tapingo to offer delivery services specifically tailored to college campuses.

December 2016: Monty Moran Steps Down as Co-CEO

In December 2016, Chipotle Mexican Grill announced that co-CEO Monty Moran resigned from his position effective immediately, leaving Steve Ells to serve as the sole CEO of the company.

November 2017: Steve Ells Announces Resignation as CEO

Eleven months after the leadership change in 2016, Steve Ells officially announced in November 2017 that he would be stepping down from his role as the Chief Executive Officer of Chipotle.

December 2017: Chipotle Announces Corporate Headquarters Relocation

In December 2017, Chipotle Mexican Grill publicly announced a 15-year lease agreement to consolidate its corporate staff into the 1144 Fifteenth Tower in downtown Denver.

February 2018: Chipotle Announces Brian Niccol as New CEO

In February 2018, Chipotle announced that Brian Niccol, the CEO of Taco Bell, was appointed to replace Steve Ells as the CEO of Chipotle effective March 5, 2018. While the move triggered a 12.04% increase in the company's stock, it received mixed reactions from analysts who debated whether the appointment of a fast-food executive aligned with the brand's established identity.

May 2018: Chipotle Relocates Corporate Headquarters

In May 2018, Chipotle Mexican Grill announced a major structural transition, revealing plans to move its headquarters from Denver, Colorado, to Newport Beach, California. As part of this shift, corporate operations previously managed in Denver and New York were consolidated into the new Newport Beach location or a pre-existing office in Columbus, Ohio. This decision affected approximately 400 employees, with the company providing relocation and retention packages to select staff members.

May 2018: Introduction of the Chipotlane

In May 2018, Chipotle officially introduced the "Chipotlane," a specialized drive-thru lane designed exclusively for the pickup of mobile orders, allowing the company to test a more efficient service model in the U.S.

June 2018: Chipotle Announces Restaurant Closures

In June 2018, Chipotle Mexican Grill publicly announced the decision to shut down 65 of its restaurant locations that were failing to meet performance expectations.

2018: Chipotle Relocates to 1144 Fifteenth Tower

During 2018, Chipotle moved approximately 450 corporate employees into five floors of the 1144 Fifteenth Tower, occupying 126,000 square feet of the high-rise office building.

March 2020: Steve Ells Resignation

In March 2020, Steve Ells officially severed his final ties with Chipotle Mexican Grill by resigning from his position as chairman and stepping down from the company's board of directors.

January 2023: Chipotle Expansion and Hiring Initiative

In January 2023, Chipotle Mexican Grill announced an aggressive growth strategy to hire 15,000 new employees and increase their total location count to 7,000, effectively doubling their existing footprint from a prior target of 6,000 locations.

2023: Expansion of Chipotlane Locations

By 2023, Chipotle had successfully expanded its operational footprint to include over 500 locations featuring the Chipotlane, aimed at streamlining restaurant efficiency and mobile order fulfillment.

2023: Chipotle 2023 Financial Performance and Digital Growth

In 2023, Chipotle Mexican Grill achieved a total revenue of $9.9 billion, representing a 14.3% year-on-year growth. The company reported average unit volumes of $3 million per restaurant and a 7.9% increase in comparable sales. Furthermore, 37.4% of the total revenue in 2023 was generated through digital channels, including online orders, third-party delivery platforms, and the expansion of the Chipotlane drive-thru model.

2023: Discontinuation of Farmesa Fresh Eatery Concept

In 2023, Chipotle officially discontinued its Farmesa Fresh Eatery concept after the test locations failed to achieve financial success while attempting to introduce California-inspired bowls to the market.

September 2024: Collaboration with Vebu on Autocado

In September 2024, Chipotle announced a partnership with Vebu to introduce Autocado, an automated machine designed to peel and cut avocados. This innovation aims to streamline the preparation of guacamole by allowing for unattended, efficient processing of large batches in under 30 seconds per avocado.

April 2025: Chipotle Announces Mexico Expansion

In April 2025, Chipotle officially announced its strategic plan to expand its global footprint by opening a new restaurant location in Mexico.

August 2025: Chipotle Drone Delivery Partnership

In August 2025, Chipotle officially announced a strategic collaboration with Zipline to initiate food delivery services using drone aircraft specifically within the greater Dallas metropolitan region.

December 2025: Chipotle Reaches 4,000 Locations

As of December 2025, the American fast casual restaurant chain Chipotle Mexican Grill reached a milestone of operating 4,000 locations globally.

2025: Chipotle Geographic Footprint Expansion

As of 2025, Chipotle expanded its presence to include restaurants across 48 states and the District of Columbia, though the company notably maintained no physical locations in Alaska, Hawaii, or any of the American overseas territories like Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, American Samoa, or Guam.