Qdoba licensed for new Charlotte restaurant on Albemarle Road
Built WorldPermit clears a new fast-casual location in east Charlotte.
Today: Qdoba #3357 gets Mecklenburg County permitNew here? Follow stories to track developments over time. Create a free account to get updates when stories you care about change.
Overview
Updated 2 hours agoQdoba Mexican Eats #3357 has been cleared to operate at 12925 Albemarle Road in Charlotte. Mecklenburg County Public Health posted the food establishment permit on August 29, 2026.
The listing is the official record that the restaurant is approved to serve food, not proof that it has opened. The next milestone is a grand opening date.
Why it matters
The permit moves east Charlotte closer to a new Qdoba, adding another fast-casual option along Albemarle Road.
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Organizations Involved
Fast-casual Mexican chain known for build-your-own burritos and free guacamole.
County agency that licenses food establishments before they can operate.
Restaurant company that lists Qdoba among its brands.
The limited liability company listed in the Charlotte Area Chamber of Commerce directory for the new Qdoba location.
Timeline
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Qdoba #3357 gets Mecklenburg County permit
Today PermitMecklenburg County Public Health lists the restaurant as cleared to operate at 12925 Albemarle Road.
Historical Context
3 moments from history that rhyme with this story — and how they unfolded.
Chipotle's Fast-Casual Expansion (1993–2006)
Chipotle opened its first Denver burrito shop in 1993 and grew to more than 500 locations by the time it went public in 2006. The chain helped make fast-casual burrito restaurants a national category.
Rival chains like Qdoba accelerated their own expansion to compete.
New burrito store openings became routine events in cities across the country, including Charlotte.
It frames the Albemarle Road permit as one more step in a decades-long expansion race among burrito chains.
Qdoba's Founding (1995)
Anthony Miller and Robert Hauser opened the first Qdoba in Denver, Colorado, originally calling it Zuma before renaming it. The store introduced a build-your-own burrito format that would define the chain.
Qdoba began franchising and expanded across the United States.
Franchise operators became the engine of Qdoba's growth, which is why a local LLC holds the Charlotte permit.
It shows that this Albemarle Road store is part of a franchise model that has been running for three decades.
Qdoba's Ownership Change (2018)
Jack in the Box sold Qdoba to Apollo Global Management, a private equity firm. The deal moved Qdoba away from the burger chain's corporate structure and toward a franchise-focused growth strategy.
Qdoba continued operating its existing restaurants while signing new franchise agreements.
The brand eventually became part of Thrive Restaurant Group, which now lists the Albemarle Road location.
It explains the corporate chain behind the Charlotte permit: Qdoba is a brand, while local franchise entities run individual stores.
