---
title: "First Franchisee Opens Chili Shack in Colorado"
url: https://burnaze.com/article/8fc383cc-1af2-462a-9066-a401ed9136ba
source: "Franchising.com"
original_url: https://www.franchising.com/articles/20260505_first_franchisee_opens_chili_shack_in_colorado.html
author: "M. Scott Morris"
category: "Restaurants"
industry: "Restaurants"
topics: ["Development & multi-unit"]
published: 2026-05-06T07:00:00.000Z
modified: 2026-10-31T16:11:45.666Z
image: https://imgs.franchising.com/art/articles/10422_plate.jpg
---

# First Franchisee Opens Chili Shack in Colorado

**TL;DR:** Deanna Solano, a longtime fan of Chili Shack, has opened the brand's first franchised location in Brighton, Colorado, and plans to develop more locations in the Denver market. The Brighton opening marks the first franchisee-led expansion for Chili Shack, which launched its franchise program earlier this year.

*By M. Scott Morris, originally published in Franchising.com on 2026-05-06. [Read the original](https://www.franchising.com/articles/20260505_first_franchisee_opens_chili_shack_in_colorado.html).*

## Story

Deanna Solano has gone from customer to franchisee, opening Chili Shack's first franchised location in Brighton, Colorado, and committing to grow the brand across the Denver market. A Southwest Denver native and longtime fan of the concept, Solano is the brand's inaugural franchise partner. She has signed on to develop three locations in Southwest Denver and is scouting additional sites in Littleton, Englewood, Lakewood, Columbine Valley, and surrounding communities.

"As someone who's been a fan of Chili Shack since day one, the opportunity to help expand this brand is truly a dream come true," Solano said. "I've always believed in what Chili Shack stands for: the incredible food, the vibrant culture, and the genuine sense of community that brings people together. Opening our doors and introducing that experience to the Brighton community is incredibly exciting."

The Brighton opening marks the first franchisee-led expansion for Chili Shack, which launched its franchise program earlier this year after building a loyal following from its original Lakewood location. "The Brighton opening represents a significant step forward in our expansion strategy and a testament to the strength of our growing franchise program," said Abraham Olivas, founder. "We're excited to celebrate this milestone and continue bringing our bold flavors and hospitality to new neighborhoods."

## Entities

- Franchising.com (publication)
- Restaurants (sector)
- unit expansion (topic)
- M. Scott Morris (person)
- market growth (topic)
- Denver (location)
- franchise program (topic)
- Chili Shack (company)
- Brighton, Colorado (location)

---
Originally reported by M. Scott Morris, Franchising.com (https://www.franchising.com/articles/20260505_first_franchisee_opens_chili_shack_in_colorado.html). Summarized by Burnaze (https://burnaze.com/article/8fc383cc-1af2-462a-9066-a401ed9136ba).