RISE - Menu Monitor

El Chico Cafe
Headquarters
12200 Stemmons Freeway Suite 100, Dallas, Texas 75234 USA
Tel: (972)241-5500 Fax: (972)888-8198
www.elchico.com
Ownership: Private
Segment: Full Service Mexican
System Characteristics 2006 2005 2004
U.S. Systemwide Sales ($000) 123,500 160,000 160,000
Company-owned ($000) 83,500 115,000 116,000
Franchised ($000) 40,000 45,000 44,000
U.S. Number of Units 69 79 80
Company-owned 45 55 57
Franchised 24 24 23
International Sales ($000) - - -
International Units - - -
Average Sales/Unit ($000) 1,670 1,650 1,650
Concept Positioning |
El Chico Café operates full-service Tex-Mex style restaurants. The chain, owned by Consolidated Restaurant Operations,
operates 69 units in
Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas, 24
of which are franchised.
Units are largely freestanding and average 5, 800 sq. ft. with seating for 200 guests. Exteriors reflect Mexican architecture and
interiors feature painted stucco walls and a separate bar area. Newer prototypes feature offer an enhanced, prominent bar
area as well as patio dining. Takeout and catering services are available.
El Chico Café is an outgrowth of a Mexican restaurant opened by the Cuellar family in the 1940s. In 1967, seven family-owned
restaurants were merged to form the present company. In September 1997, the company agreed to an acquisition bid by a
Dallas investment firm Cracken, Harkey & Co. for some $50 million plus the refinancing of about $15 million in existing debt.
The deal closed the end of 1997. Cracken, Harkey investors include E. Gene Street, founder of Black-eyed Pea, and Clyde E.
Culp III, former president and CEO of Long John Silver’s. The corporate entity is now known as Consolidated Restaurant
Operations, Inc (CRO). CRO also operates a group of restaurants including Casa Rosa, Lucky’s Cafe, Cantina Laredo, Good
Eats, III Forks, Spaghetti Warehouse, and Cool River.
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