Denver, CO (Restaurant News Release) Chili Shack – the popular Denver, Colorado-based restaurant chain known for its Mexican-American fare smothered in green chili – has signed its very first franchise agreement for the development of three restaurants in Southwest Denver.
Chili Shack’s inaugural franchise partner is Deanna Solano, a Southwest Denver native and long-time customer. Deeply rooted in the local community, Solano brings proven entrepreneurial experience as the owner of Colorado’s Helping Hand, a non-medical home care company that has supported families across the Denver metro area for the past eight years.
Though leases have yet to be signed, Solano is exploring potential locations in Littleton, Englewood, Lakewood, and Columbine Valley, among others. She expects to open her first Chili Shack restaurant at some point before the end of 2026, with all three locations set to roll out over the next few years.
“I’m incredibly excited and honored to become Chili Shack’s very first franchisee,” said Solano. “Partnering with a homegrown brand that has such a strong connection to the community makes this opportunity even more meaningful, and I can’t wait to open my restaurants and share Chili Shack’s authentic flavor and legendary green chili with even more guests.”
Chili Shack opened its very first restaurant in 2020 in Lakewood, Colorado and has since built a cult following for its crave-worthy creations. Customers can find meal options across multiple day parts, including fully customizable burritos, various grilled tacos and quesadillas, Southwest-inspired burgers, hearty enchilada plates, loaded fries, and other street-style favorites. The soul of the menu is Chili Shack’s signature green chili – a rich, flavorful staple that brings every dish to life with its perfect balance of heat, spice, and tradition.
The menu doesn’t stop there. Chili Shack also dishes out crispy tortilla chips paired with a trio of irresistible sides (salsa, queso, and guacamole), as well as “take home items” like beans, rice, salsa, red chili, green chili, and chicharrones that are available in cups, pints, quarts, and even gallons.
“Welcoming Deanna to the Chili Shack family is an exciting and incredibly meaningful step for us. Her passion for serving others, combined with her firsthand love for the Chili Shack brand, makes her an ideal partner as we begin this next chapter of growth through franchising,” said Chili Shack founder Abraham Olivas.
With six corporate-owned restaurants already serving throngs of customers throughout the Denver metro area and downtown Las Vegas, Chili Shack recently set its sights on opening as many as 100 new locations via franchising across the country in the next several years. The growth will be achieved through both single- and multi-unit franchising, initially targeting select markets throughout other parts of Colorado, as well as Arizona, California, Florida, Nevada, and New Mexico.
Including a franchise fee of $65,000, the total investment to open a 2,400 square-foot Chili Shack restaurant ranges from $254,500 to $574,600. Each restaurant typically seats about 25-40 guests and employs as many as 10 people.
For more information about Chili Shack, visit Chili-Shack.com.