Qdoba to open 30 new Carolina stores
One of the nation’s leading Mexican fast-casual chains is expanding its presence in the Southeast.
Qdoba Mexican Grill has announced a 30-unit development deal with Wichita-based Thrive Restaurant Group, one of the nation's leading franchise operators. This deal will bring new restaurants to the Carolinas by 2028 in Greenville (N.C.), Wilmington (N.C.), Myrtle Beach (S.C.), Columbia (S.C.) and Greenville (S.C.).
“I am extremely excited to bring on Thrive as a pivotal franchise partner for years to come,” said Jeremy Vitaro, chief development officer at Qdoba, who joined the company in March. “Thrive is planning to enter the Carolinas with boldness and speed. We believe that Thrive will propel our system in reaching new heights with the high quality of their buildouts and operations, and their deep focus on guest hospitality.”
The two-state expansion is part of Qdoba’s current growth plans to nearly double its current footprint of more than 760 restaurants to a projected 1,600 restaurants over the next decade. The San Diego-based chain says it is set to open more than 50 restaurants this year in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico.
“Jon Rolph [CEO of Thrive] is a tremendous leader, partner and culture-builder, and one of the best franchisees I’ve had the pleasure to partner with throughout my career,” said John Cywinski, CEO of Qdoba. “Qdoba is an exceptionally well-positioned brand in the most attractive restaurant category and I’m confident Thrive will help us unlock our full potential in the Carolinas.”
To help fuel expansion, Qdoba recently announced a new cash incentive program for candidates looking to open Qdoba stores. Qualified franchisees will receive $100,000 in cash after opening for any commitments to open new restaurants by September 2026.
Based in San Diego, Qdoba operates more than 760 locations in the U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico.
Thrive Restaurant Group, the second largest Applebee’s franchisee, employs over 8,000 people across five brands, 170 restaurants and 15 states.
