Cafe Rio
{{Short description|American fast casual restaurant chain}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Cafe Rio Mexican Grill
| logo = Cafe Rio logo.svg
| type = Restaurant
| location = Salt Lake City, Utah
| num_locations = 162 (as of 2023)
| foundation = {{start date and age|1997}}
| industry = Casual dining Restaurants
| genre = Fast Casual
| homepage = {{URL|http://www.caferio.com/}}
}}
Cafe Rio, or Cafe Rio Mexican Grill, is an American fast casual restaurant chain based in Salt Lake City, with branches in Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Maryland, Montana, Nevada, Utah, Virginia, Washington, and Wyoming. The company specializes in Mexican cuisine. Its menu includes appetizers, tostadas, salads, burritos, desserts, enchiladas, tacos, quesadillas, soups, and beverages. The company also provides catering services.{{Cite web|title = Cafe Rio, Inc.: Private Company Information - Businessweek|url = https://www.bloomberg.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapId=20642395|website = Businessweek.com|access-date = 2016-02-08}} In October 2017, the chain had 120 locations.{{Cite web|title = Cafe Rio {{!}} Mexican Grill-60 Awards and counting.|url = http://www.caferio.com/locations|website = www.caferio.com|access-date = 2016-02-08}} In April 2022, it has grown to 146 locations. {{cn|date=January 2024}}
History
File:Cafe Rio, Provo, Utah.jpg]]
Cafe Rio was started in 1997 by Steve and Tricia Stanley in St. George, Utah. In December 2004, Bob and Kathleen Nilsen, Spencer K Hill, along with SKM/Apax Partners purchased the chain, which at the time had six restaurants. In 2011, Dave Gagnon took over as CEO and COO at the same time as Bob Baker was appointed President and CFO. In 2018, Steve Vaughan became CEO when Dave Gagnon retired. Previously, Mr. Vaughan was CFO. As of December 2020, Cafe Rio is operating in 135 locations across 11 states. Cafe Rio's recipes are inspired from the traditional cooking of the Rio Grande region of Northern Mexico, Southern Texas and New Mexico.[http://www.caferio.com/our-story Our Story] Meals are cooked in each restaurant's kitchen, fresh every day. The signature dish is a sweet pork barbacoa burrito made enchilada-style. There are plans on opening 12 new locations in 2021 and converting current some existing locations to include drive-thru's.
= Allegations against Costa Vida =
In 2005, Cafe Rio allegedly accused fellow Utah-based, fast casual Mexican restaurant Costa Vida (formerly known as Costa Azul) of recipe theft and copying trade secrets. The two restaurants settled privately in 2007.{{Cite web |author=Editorial Staff |date=2016-01-10 |title=Costa Vida vs Cafe Rio: The Lawsuit That Changed Everything |url=https://www.fastfoodmenuprices.com/costa-vida-vs-cafe-rio-the-lawsuit-that-changed-everything/ |access-date=2023-06-21 |website=Fast Food Menu Prices |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Dealio |first=The |date=2017-11-01 |title=Café Rio or Costa Vida - Café Rio vs. Costa Vida: The real Holy War - |url=https://explorerexburg.com/cafe-rio-costa-vida/ |access-date=2023-06-21 |website=Explore Rexburg |language=en-US}}{{cite web |title=Have You Heard The Rumored Feud Between These Two Boise Restaurants?|url=https://mix106radio.com/have-you-heard-the-rumored-feud-between-these-two-boise-restaurants/ |website=Mix106|date=9 November 2021 }}
Locations
The company has locations in:
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
- Arizona
- California
- Colorado
- Idaho
- Maryland
- Montana
- Nevada
- Utah
- Virginia
- Washington
- Wyoming
{{div col end}}
Notes
{{reflist}}
References
- {{cite web | title = Cafe Rio official is presented a national award | publisher = Deseret News (Salt Lake City) | url = http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4188/is_20070505/ai_n19061964 |
access-date = 2 January 2008| date = 2007-05-05}}
- {{cite web
|title=Taylorsville Cafe Rio boosts economy
|publisher=Salt Lake Community College Globe
|access-date=2 January 2008
|date=2006-04-13
|url=http://media.www.slccglobelink.com/media/storage/paper442/news/2006/04/13/News/Taylorsville.Cafe.Rio.Boosts.Economy-1846528.shtml
}}{{dead link|date=May 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
- {{cite web|title=Café Rio creates scholarships for American Indian students |publisher=The Daily Utah Chronicle |url=http://media.www.dailyutahchronicle.com/media/storage/paper244/news/2006/01/12/News/Caf-Rio.Creates.Scholarships.For.American.Indian.Students-1340752.shtml |access-date=2 January 2008 |date=2006-01-12 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070907184428/http://media.www.dailyutahchronicle.com/media/storage/paper244/news/2006/01/12/News/Caf-Rio.Creates.Scholarships.For.American.Indian.Students-1340752.shtml |archive-date=7 September 2007 }}
- {{cite web | title = MWVG Honor's Utah's Fastest Growing Companies | url = http://www.connect-utah.com/article.asp?r=198 | access-date = 2 January 2008 | date = 2003-11-19 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070510145733/http://www.connect-utah.com/article.asp?r=198 | archive-date = 10 May 2007 }}
External links
- {{Official website}}
{{Fast-food chains of the United States}}
Category:Buildings and structures in Washington County, Utah
Category:Companies based in Utah
Category:Economy of the Western United States
Category:Regional restaurant chains in the United States
Category:Fast-food chains of the United States
Category:Restaurants established in 1997
Category:Mexican restaurants in the United States
Category:Apax Partners companies
Category:1997 establishments in Utah
{{US-restaurant-stub}}