Factor: Labor

Steve Ells graduates from college and begins to attend a culinary school. At this school Steve learned that his passion is cooking and led to him working at the famous Stars restaurant. 

Steve Ells moves back to Denver, Colorado to open his first Chipotle restaurant. While in San Francisco, Steve realized that the way they made and ate burritos was very different there than in Colorado. Steve was heavily inspired by the Stars restaurant, which is where he worked, and the local taco and burritos restaurants. These inspirations are what led to why chipotle is the way it is.

Factor: Capitol

After working at the Stars restaurant and living in San Francisco, Steve Ells moves back to his hometown of Denver, Colorado to open up the very first Chipotle restaurant. The first restaurant cost a mere $600 per month to rent, but the property was in poor shape so some renovation had to be done. That first chipotle has a similar layout and theme as every chipotle does today. 

Factor: Land

Chipotle starts using fresh, gas’s fed beef. This transition was caused by the recent E.Coli break out and Chipotle wanted to ensure that their beef was properly handled and fresh. This also met a need by many consumers at this time because of most restraints irresponsible handling of meat.