Richmond, Virginia Tops California Tortilla’s List of Target Development Markets in 2020

California Tortilla is on a roll, and we’re not just talking about its well-assembled burritos (though those are exceptional, too). What began as a neighborhood hangout with great food and even better service, Cal Tort has grown well beyond its Maryland roots to more than 45 locations, with even more in the way in 2020. One such restaurant is set to arrive in Chesapeake, Virginia in the very near future, marking California Tortilla’s first foray into nationwide development that it is preparing to expand upon in the year ahead by pursuing development opportunities in Virginia’s capital city of Richmond.

As part of a major Mid-Atlantic expansion initiative, Cal Tort has set its sights on Richmond for a number of reasons, first and foremost being the impressive growth the city is seeing, according to Director of Franchise Development Aaron Goldberg. In total, he said, the greater Richmond area has the capacity to hold double-digit units for the chef-inspired brand, and his team is particularly interested in establishing a presence near the campus of Virginia Commonwealth University.

“We’re looking to take advantage of the impressive expansion in downtown Richmond as well as the growing area around the VCU campus,” Goldberg said. “There’s so much new housing coming about for the under-40 market due to how fast the city is growing, and we feel our concept is well-positioned to reach that consumer base. Beyond just the city, Richmond has a number of affluent suburbs with a lot of families, which is another customer base Cal Tort has historically connected well to.”

It is in these urban-to-suburban markets where Cal Tort thrives, making Richmond an extremely appealing development target for the brand. Between the ever-growing university community and a lot of big business funneling into the area, the market’s potential is huge. Plus, the fact that the brand is beginning operations in Chesapeake in 2020 creates even more incentive to expand in Virginia due to the positive impact doing so would have on supply chain management, according to Goldberg.

“Due to our commitment to healthy, fresh and high-quality ingredients, our franchise development plans heavily consider both supply chain management and our capacity to provide adequate support,” Goldberg said. “We center our development strategy on controlled cost of goods, quality and delivery, so pursuing growth opportunities concentric to our current locations is a key element of setting our franchise partners up for success.”

As the brand continues to leverage its existing footprint in Virginia while exploring expansion opportunities in key markets throughout the state, California Tortilla is seeking qualified franchisees to help grow the brand throughout the state. the most sought-after qualities in a Cal Tort franchisee include business acumen, restaurant experience, a community-centric mindset and the capital to develop multiple locations.

California Tortilla is a fast-casual Mexican restaurant franchise known for its commitment to freshness and flavor. Hailing from Potomac, Maryland, California Tortilla's signature, made-to-order food is all made in-house from fresh, never-frozen ingredients, ensuring the highest-quality menu offering at all 45 of its locations. For more information, please visit **