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hottest investment
in tex-mex

Learn about the continued growth of the
fast casual Tex-Mex restaurant industry
and what it takes to own your own Tijuana
Flats with our FREE e-book.

    over 25 years tex mex for all
    In 1995 Tijuana Flats founder Brian Wheeler was a broke college kid with a vision for an innovative restaurant concept. His dad believed in the idea, so he loaned him the money to open his first location in Winter Park, Florida. This launched a “Tex-Mex for All,” full-of-flavor food movement like no other. He could have stopped there, but Brian had a burning desire to go beyond burritos. So he created the “Smack My Ass & Call Me Sally” line of hot sauces, which includes a variety of flavorful sauces that range from sweet heat to full blown burns.

    Just four years later, things began to really heat up. In 1999, Brian’s success caught the eye of restaurant industry hotshot Camp Fitch. Camp left retirement to become partner and chairman of Tijuana Flats. Brian’s dad, Chester Wheeler, soon followed, leaving a 30-year career at a Fortune 500 company to become CFO of Tijuana Flats.

    building collage

    Since then, Tijuana Flats has grown to 91 locations in four very lucky states. Jim Greco took over as CEO of Tijuana Flats in May 2024.

    Our core values drive our success. They define what’s important to us in life and as a brand. We strive to achieve them at all times, delivering big-hearted, over-the-top food and service.

    about bullet points

    lizard drinking hot sauce

    our people are our key ingredient

    Our leadership team has years of franchising experience that we put to work for our franchisees every day. This team approach along with a proven business system is a huge advantage for our franchisees.

    lizard drinking hot sauce

    our people are our key ingredient

    Our leadership team has years of franchising experience that we put to work for our franchisees every day. This team approach along with a proven business system is a huge advantage for our franchisees.

    James Greco Headshot Web Friendly
    Jim Greco – CEO

    Jim Greco is our head honcho, aka CEO and industry legend. Prior to Tijuana Flats, Jim used his special sauce to unlock the full potential of brands and businesses in the restaurant, food manufacturing and service industries, including having held the title of CEO at both Bruegger’s and Sbarro. Now, he’s using his recipe for success to stoke the fire of brand love around Tijuana Flats to we can be better than ever.