El Pollo Loco announces the opening of its 500th restaurant in Colorado Springs, celebrating growth and nationwide expansion.
Quiver AI Summary
El Pollo Loco is celebrating the grand opening of its 500th restaurant in Colorado Springs on October 17, 2025, marking a significant milestone in the company's 50-year history. CEO Liz Williams emphasized that this achievement showcases the brand's strength and commitment to delivering quality fire-grilled chicken and bold flavors. The opening coincides with a year of expansion, with ten new locations planned for 2025, primarily outside California, reflecting El Pollo Loco's transformation into a national brand. The company is attracting interest from franchisees and has strong development plans, including ongoing construction in various U.S. cities. The restaurant's celebration includes promotions for Loco Rewards Members and highlights the company's recent marketing initiatives and innovative menu offerings designed to enhance customer appeal.
Potential Positives
- El Pollo Loco has achieved a significant milestone by opening its 500th restaurant, demonstrating strong brand growth and expansion.
- The new location in Colorado Springs aligns with the company's 50th anniversary, celebrating a long-standing legacy while reinforcing its commitment to quality and flavor.
- The press release highlights a robust development pipeline, with 10 new openings planned in 2025, indicating confidence in future growth beyond California.
- El Pollo Loco's initiative to engage customers with promotional offers during the grand opening fosters customer loyalty and attracts new patrons.
Potential Negatives
- Despite the milestone of opening its 500th restaurant, the majority of new locations are planned outside of California, which may indicate potential challenges in the brand's core market.
- The company has not disclosed financial performance figures associated with this expansion, raising questions about the profitability of new locations.
- The lack of information on how these new openings will impact overall operational efficiency or employee workload could raise concerns about sustainability during rapid expansion.
FAQ
What milestone is El Pollo Loco celebrating?
El Pollo Loco is celebrating the opening of its 500th restaurant, a significant milestone in its growth and expansion.
Where is the 500th El Pollo Loco restaurant located?
The 500th restaurant is located at 825 E. Fillmore Street in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
When is the Grand Opening of the 500th restaurant?
The Grand Opening is scheduled for Friday, October 17, 2025.
What special offer is available for Loco Rewards Members?
Loco Rewards Members can enjoy a Two-Piece Chicken meal for just $5.00 on October 17 through the El Pollo Loco app.
What new menu innovations has El Pollo Loco introduced?
El Pollo Loco has introduced new items like Mango Habanero Chicken and Double Chicken Burrito Bowls as part of its menu innovations.
Disclaimer: This is an AI-generated summary of a press release distributed by GlobeNewswire. The model used to summarize this release may make mistakes. See the full release here.
$LOCO Insider Trading Activity
$LOCO insiders have traded $LOCO stock on the open market 1 times in the past 6 months. Of those trades, 0 have been purchases and 1 have been sales.
Here’s a breakdown of recent trading of $LOCO stock by insiders over the last 6 months:
- MARK BULLER sold 11,363 shares for an estimated $124,993
To track insider transactions, check out Quiver Quantitative's insider trading dashboard.
$LOCO Hedge Fund Activity
We have seen 72 institutional investors add shares of $LOCO stock to their portfolio, and 67 decrease their positions in their most recent quarter.
Here are some of the largest recent moves:
- DIVISADERO STREET CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, LP added 1,024,302 shares (+495.3%) to their portfolio in Q2 2025, for an estimated $11,277,565
- PORTOLAN CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, LLC added 751,012 shares (+inf%) to their portfolio in Q2 2025, for an estimated $8,268,642
- FUND 1 INVESTMENTS, LLC removed 577,261 shares (-75.3%) from their portfolio in Q2 2025, for an estimated $6,355,643
- MILLENNIUM MANAGEMENT LLC removed 500,460 shares (-73.6%) from their portfolio in Q2 2025, for an estimated $5,510,064
- JPMORGAN CHASE & CO removed 360,231 shares (-96.6%) from their portfolio in Q2 2025, for an estimated $3,966,143
- GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP INC removed 179,528 shares (-75.4%) from their portfolio in Q2 2025, for an estimated $1,976,603
- WESTERN STANDARD LLC removed 125,000 shares (-100.0%) from their portfolio in Q2 2025, for an estimated $1,376,250
To track hedge funds' stock portfolios, check out Quiver Quantitative's institutional holdings dashboard.
Full Release
COSTA MESA, Calif., Oct. 14, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- El Pollo Loco is proud to announce the opening of its 500th restaurant, a significant milestone in the company’s growth and expansion. The new location, which will celebrate its Grand Opening on Friday, 10/17, builds on the brand’s 50-year legacy of bringing fire-grilled chicken and Mexican-inspired cuisine to new communities.
“Reaching 500 locations is a landmark achievement for El Pollo Loco, especially during our 50 th anniversary year,” said El Pollo Loco Chief Executive Officer, Liz Williams. “It’s a testament to the strength of our brand and delicious food, coupled with the passion and loyalty of our team members and guests. Opening our 500th restaurant in Colorado Springs not only marks a significant moment in our growth, but also reinforces our continued commitment to delivering quality, fire-grilled chicken, and bold flavors to even more guests nationwide.”
The 500th restaurant milestone comes amid a year of steady expansion, with 10 new openings planned in 2025 - the majority outside of California where the brand is headquartered. This achievement reflects El Pollo Loco’s evolution from a regional favorite into a brand with strong momentum to grow nationally.
“Behind this milestone is one of the strongest development pipelines we’ve ever had,” said Chief Development Officer, Tim Welsh. “In addition to Colorado Springs, we have restaurants under construction in El Paso, Dallas, Albuquerque, and the Greater Seattle area, to name a few. We’re generating interest from franchisees who believe in the power of the brand, which gives us confidence in accelerating growth well beyond our core markets.”
The new Colorado Springs restaurant, located at 825 E. Fillmore Street, marks El Pollo Loco’s third location in the state of Colorado. As part of the 500 th restaurant festivities - and the brand’s exclusive Loco Friday Drops program - Loco Rewards Members can enjoy a Two-Piece Chicken meal for just $5.00 through the El Pollo Loco app on Friday, October 17.*
The 500th restaurant opening comes during a year of record brand momentum:
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The “Loco” Era Began
In May, El Pollo Loco debuted its Let’s Get Loco™ manifesto video , encouraging people to pursue their passions boldly and satisfy their appetites fully. Launched in celebration of the brand’s 50th anniversary, the campaign marked a new chapter in El Pollo Loco’s evolution – doubling down on its commitment to fire-grilled chicken, quality ingredients, and bold, flavor-forward innovation.
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Menus
Elevated
From reimagined quesadillas to extra helpings of fire-grilled chicken, El Pollo Loco continues to lead with crave-worthy menu innovation. This year’s highlights include Mango Habanero Chicken, two new Double Chicken Burrito Bowls, and expanded quesadilla offerings designed for flavor on-the-go.
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Big Moments
El Pollo Loco continues to make its mark through bold cultural activations. The brand tapped into the energy of sports by partnering with standout athletes like pro skater and X-Games gold medalist Paul “P-Rod” Rodriquez, NBA player Dalton Knecht and WNBA player Arike Ogunbowale, who helped introduce El Pollo Loco’s fire-grilled chicken to new audiences through local events and surprise fan experiences. The brand also rewarded one lucky fan with chicken for life as part of their Loco AI Challenge on social media.
With new restaurant openings planned across current and emerging markets, El Pollo Loco is poised to further expand its U.S. footprint in 2025 and beyond. For more information, visit ElPolloLoco.com .
Interested in bringing El Pollo Loco to your community? Learn more about franchise opportunities here .
* Valid 10/17/25 only for Loco Rewards members. Limit 1 per person. Tax and modifications extra. Not valid on combo or breast and wing option. Valid at participating locations and channels only.
About El Pollo Loco
El Pollo Loco (Nasdaq: LOCO) is the nation's leading fire-grilled chicken restaurant known for its craveable, flavorful, and better-for-you offerings. Named by USA Today 10 Best Reader’s Choice Awards as a “Best Restaurant for Quick, Healthy Food” two years in a row, our menu features innovative meals with Mexican-inspired flavors made daily in our restaurants using quality ingredients. At
El Pollo Loco
, inclusivity is at the heart of our culture. Our community of over 4,000 employees reflects our commitment to creating a workplace where everyone has a seat at our table. Since opening our first U.S. restaurant in 1980, El Pollo Loco has expanded to more than 500 company-owned and franchised restaurants across Arizona, California, Colorado, Louisiana, Nevada, Texas, and Utah, with additional locations in development. The company has also extended its footprint internationally, with licensed restaurant locations in the Philippines.
For more information or to place an order , visit the Loco Rewards app or ElPolloLoco.com . Follow us on Instagram , TikTok , Facebook , or X .
CONTACT:
DeVries Global
[email protected]
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/d995b0a7-ded7-4f95-bc24-a9f8649eab6a
