Chipotle's first Denver location (1993)
Steve Ells opened the first Chipotle restaurant in a converted Dolly Madison ice cream store near the University of Denver. It started as a single burrito shop with a $85,000 loan from his father.
The store gained a following for its burritos and poached-egg breakfasts, and Ells opened a second location two years later.
Chipotle grew into a national chain with thousands of locations, showing that a single restaurant in Denver can become a major brand.
Like Chipotle, Nana's begins its Denver presence with a single address. Whether the city grants the licenses will determine if the chain can plant a flag there.
