That same year Tijuana Flats created its non-profit arm, the Just in Queso Foundation. Today, the restaurant support and training center is located at the Tijuana Flats HQ in Maitland, FL In 2007, Tijuana Flats shifted from a franchise model to corporate-owned stores. In 2005, Tijuana Flats built its training center for restaurant managers in Winter Park. Tijuana Flats had six locations by 2001, which grew to 18 locations in 2004 and 65 by 2009.

When the fourth location opened, the founder's dad, Chester Wheeler, was reimbursed for his $20,000 loan used to start the company and joined as the CFO. In 1999, Fitch invested in the company and was appointed its CEO to expand the company. Students from Wheeler's former college made up some of the restaurant's early customers.Īfter the third location was opened, a semi-retired restaurant executive, Camp Fitch, was invited to Tijuana Flats by his golf partner. It was modeled after Burrito Brothers, a Mexican restaurant in Gainesville, Florida and funded with $20,000 in borrowed money from Wheeler's family. Tijuana Flats was started in Winter Park, Florida. The company had 18 locations before expanding out-of-state in 2004. The restaurant was founded in Winter Park, Florida, in 1995 by University of Central Florida graduate Brian Wheeler with US$20,000 in loans. Customers order at the front counter and are served after taking a seat.

Tijuana Flats restaurants are fast-casual hybrids with fresh food, hot sauce bars, art murals and off-beat culture. It has over 135 locations (117 company owned & 18 franchised) throughout Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, Virginia, and Indiana. Tijuana Flats Tex-Mex is a privately-held American restaurant chain serving Tex-Mex cuisine.

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