Qdoba Announces Western Expansion with 50-Unit Franchise Deal

Qdoba Mexican Eats is making a major move into Western markets. The fast-casual chain announced one of its largest franchise deals ever, with industry veteran Barry Dubin agreeing to open 50 new restaurants across five Western states.

Dubin's company, B Wild Investments, will develop locations throughout Alaska, Utah, Nevada, Colorado, and New Mexico. The initial rollout targets major markets including Salt Lake City, Las Vegas, Albuquerque, St. George, and areas around Colorado Springs.

This isn't Dubin's first major restaurant venture. He co-founded KBP Brands, which now operates over 1,000 restaurant units, and serves as executive chairman of America's largest Tide Laundromat franchise network. That track record caught the attention of Qdoba CEO John Cywinski, who has known Dubin for 15 years.

"I've known Barry for 15 years, since I was President of KFC, where he was my largest franchise partner," said Cywinski. "Barry is an exceptional leader, strategist, and operator, and I'm absolutely thrilled he is joining the QDOBA brand."

"This agreement marks a proud milestone for me and for QDOBA," said Dubin. "I believe deeply in the brand's strength, its experienced leadership team, and its position in one of the most attractive categories in the restaurant industry."

Qdoba's growth has been building steadily. The company signed nearly 20 new franchisees in the past year alone, including deals for Pittsburgh, Dallas-Fort Worth, and several Ohio markets. With more than 600 future restaurants in its development pipeline, the brand is positioning itself for explosive growth.

Chief Development Officer Jeremy Vitaro sees this as just the beginning. "As we look to Fiscal Year 2026, QDOBA continues to build impressive momentum," he said. "As one of the fastest growing brands in the industry, it's no surprise we continue to attract some of the best franchise partners from QSR and casual dining."

The company isn't stopping with the Western expansion. Qdoba is actively pursuing growth in Florida, Texas, California, Georgia, Alabama, Louisiana, and Tennessee with a goal to double their current footprint by 2032.

Currently operating over 800 locations across the U.S., Canada, Puerto Rico, Japan, and South Korea, Qdoba has established itself as America's number-two player in the Mexican fast-casual space. With deals like this, that ranking might not hold for long.

by Alex Bailey | September 22, 2025 | SHARE