Chili Shack has inked its first-ever franchise agreement with Denver-area entrepreneur Deanna Solano, who is planning three locations in southwest Denver, with the debut restaurant aimed for mid-2026. Solano, a Colorado native and mother of seven, has told local reporters she wants her Chili Shack spots to radiate “love and happiness” through the food and hospitality. The move turns the hometown green-chile favorite into a brand with its first outside operator as it sets its sights on national expansion.
According to QSR Magazine, the deal names Solano as Chili Shack's inaugural franchise partner and gives her the rights to develop three units in southwest Denver. Founder Abraham Olivas welcomed her into the fold as the company opened its doors to franchise operators for the first time.
Local Owner, Local Turf
Solano, who also runs home-care company Colorado's Helping Hand, is zeroing in on Littleton for the first confirmed restaurant and is weighing other options in Englewood, Lakewood, and Columbine Valley, according to What Now Denver. She plans to open the remaining two locations within three years and says no leases have been signed yet. For Solano, the arrangement is a way to grow a brand she already frequents into more corners of the neighborhoods she serves.
Green Chile, Smothered Burritos and the Big Draw
Chili Shack built its fan base on smothered burritos, loaded fries, build-your-own tacos and quesadillas, enchilada plates, and Southwest-style burgers, all powered by its signature green chili. That chili also goes out the door in pints and gallons for take-home orders, as laid out on the company’s website. The all-day menu is part of the franchise pitch: streamlined operations and enough variety to keep guests rolling in from breakfast through late night. Locals say the green-chile obsession is what helps the concept pop in an already crowded Mexican-food market.
From Front Range Favorite to Growth Play
The franchising move follows a fall expansion that took Chili Shack beyond the Front Range, including its first out-of-state restaurant in downtown Las Vegas. Fast Casual reported that the company has been promoting a franchise model, which it says could scale to about 100 restaurants over time, while the Las Vegas Review-Journal covered the downtown Vegas opening in October 2025. That growing footprint gives prospective operators something concrete to point to when they sit down with lenders and landlords.
Franchise Numbers and Neighborhood Footprint
Chili Shack's franchising portal lists an initial investment range for a single unit of roughly $254,500 to $574,600, with an average unit volume the brand pegs at about $910,000, figures the company says are detailed in its Franchise Disclosure Document. The site also notes that a typical restaurant seats 25 to 40 guests and employs up to 10 team members, hinting that early openings will bring a modest wave of local hiring. For Solano, the upside is scaling a concept that, in her view, already clicks with neighborhood customers.
What Comes Next
Securing leases and locking in sites are the immediate priorities. Solano told What Now Denver that leases are still in the works, and that actual opening dates will hinge on permitting and buildout. The franchise portal for Chili Shack lays out the next steps for future operators, from initial discovery calls and review of the Franchise Disclosure Document to training and pre-opening prep. The key milestones to watch now are a signed Littleton lease and any permit filings that put that mid-2026 target on the calendar.
