The $85K Burrito That Built a Billion-Dollar Empire | Chipotle Story
Steve Ells didn’t plan to build a fast-food empire—he just needed money to open a fine dining restaurant.
With $85,000 borrowed from his dad, he opened a small burrito shop and calculated he’d need to sell 107 burritos a day to survive. One month later, he was selling over 1,000 daily.
When McDonald’s invested millions to scale Chipotle, they pushed for drive-thrus and breakfast menus. Ells refused—and that decision changed everything.
This is the story of how staying true to your vision can turn a small idea into a billion-dollar brand.
2 Comments
chipotle sucks. All their food has a sour undertone. Its nasty
Why are your ads covered in print. I cant read either one.