--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Chipotle was wildly successful, and I…" description: "\"Chipotle was wildly successful, and I thought, 'Well, let me open one more.'\" — Steve Ells" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d1f/steve-ells-9755_chipotle_chipotle-was-wildly-successful-and-i-tho_2904220.png" --- # Chipotle was wildly successful, and I thought, 'Well, let… ![“Chipotle was wildly successful, and I thought, 'Well, let me open one more.'” quote by Steve Ells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d1f/steve-ells-9755_chipotle_chipotle-was-wildly-successful-and-i-tho_2904220.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d1f/steve-ells-9755_chipotle_chipotle-was-wildly-successful-and-i-tho_2904220.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d1f/steve-ells-9755_chipotle_chipotle-was-wildly-successful-and-i-tho_2904220.png) > “Chipotle was wildly successful, and I thought, 'Well, let me open one more.'” [Steve Ells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-ells/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Success can breed over‑expansion; caution is needed before scaling further. **In simple terms:** Beware of over‑growth after success. Key Takeaway Assess readiness before expanding. Themes business growth risk Mood cautious analytical Type strategic reflective When to use this quote - opening new locations - franchising - investment decisions Key Concepts strategy economics leadership Questions to Reflect On - What metrics indicate readiness? - How to balance growth and quality? A Different Perspective Market saturation may hurt brand. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Chipotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chipotle/) [Chipotle Wildly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chipotle-wildly-4147702/) [Food](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/food/) [Me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/me/) [More](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/more/) [Open](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/open/) [Successful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/successful/) [Successful Thought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/successful-thought-659420/) [Thought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thought/) [Well](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/well/) [Wildly Successful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wildly-successful-1652014/) ## Related quotes > [By all standards, except for 'Star Trek' standards, 98 episodes of any television show is a wildly successful run.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-bakula/by-all-standards-except-for-star-trek-standards-98-episodes-of-any/) [Scott Bakula](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-bakula/) > ['Sesame Street' was built on the idea that a show that could capture a child's attention could also give the child an education. That…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-flock/sesame-street-was-built-on-the-idea-that-a-show-that-could-capture-a/) [Elizabeth Flock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-flock/) > [“There is something you have that all of the most wildly successful people in our history have also had. Twenty four hours in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-t-arsenault/there-is-something-you-have-that-all-of-the-most-wildly-successful/) [Mark T. Arsenault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-t-arsenault/) > [I guess, at the beginning of any project, I always have the same hope, which is that it's going to be wildly successful and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-d-moore/i-guess-at-the-beginning-of-any-project-i-always-have-the-same-hope/) [Ronald D. Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-d-moore/) > [Chipotle is really showing that there's a better way to do fast food.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-ells/chipotle-is-really-showing-that-there-s-a-better-way-to-do-fast-food/) [Steve Ells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-ells/) > [Having never taken a business class, the economics of restaurants scared me. I opened Chipotle with the idea that I could step away from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-ells/having-never-taken-a-business-class-the-economics-of-restaurants/) [Steve Ells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-ells/) > [Chipotle is based on a very simple idea: We start with great ingredients, prepare them using classic cooking techniques, and serve them in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-ells/chipotle-is-based-on-a-very-simple-idea-we-start-with-great/) [Steve Ells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-ells/) > [When I created Chipotle in 1993, I had a very simple idea: Offer a simple menu of great food prepared fresh each day, using…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-ells/when-i-created-chipotle-in-1993-i-had-a-very-simple-idea-offer-a/) [Steve Ells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-ells/) > [The idea for Chipotle is a sort of combination of food borrowed from Stars and sort of a technique and a service format borrowed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-ells/the-idea-for-chipotle-is-a-sort-of-combination-of-food-borrowed-from/) [Steve Ells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-ells/) > [We can teach people how to run a Chipotle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-ells/we-can-teach-people-how-to-run-a-chipotle/) [Steve Ells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-ells/) > [I started Chipotle with the idea to create an experience that's fast - and not fast food.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-ells/i-started-chipotle-with-the-idea-to-create-an-experience-that-s-fast/) [Steve Ells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-ells/) > [If we really want to change the way Americans eat, we need to make delicious, sustainably-raised food accessible to everyone. Most people are not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-ells/if-we-really-want-to-change-the-way-americans-eat-we-need-to-make/) [Steve Ells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-ells/) > [One of the pivotal moments for me was realizing that our 'food with integrity' approach at Chipotle was satisfying my passion. That's about bringing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-ells/one-of-the-pivotal-moments-for-me-was-realizing-that-our-food-with/) [Steve Ells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-ells/) > [The first Chipotle was intended to be my source of funding for a full-scale restaurant, a means to an end. But it turned out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-ells/the-first-chipotle-was-intended-to-be-my-source-of-funding-for-a-full/) [Steve Ells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-ells/) > [We can assure you today that there is no E. coli in Chipotle. We have thoroughly tested our food, we have thoroughly tested our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-ells/we-can-assure-you-today-that-there-is-no-e-coli-in-chipotle-we-have/) [Steve Ells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-ells/) ## More by Steve Ells > [You know, I hate to borrow Apple's tag, but think different. Really. From the very beginning. I didn't know what the fast-food rules were.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-ells/you-know-i-hate-to-borrow-apple-s-tag-but-think-different-really-from/) [Steve Ells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-ells/) > [The economic model was formed by the constraints that I had: a small space, relatively inexpensive building materials, relatively inexpensive investment, a very efficient…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-ells/the-economic-model-was-formed-by-the-constraints-that-i-had-a-small/) [Steve Ells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-ells/) > [When I started on the very first day with just one restaurant, we used to pick oregano off the stems and chop them. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-ells/when-i-started-on-the-very-first-day-with-just-one-restaurant-we-used/) [Steve Ells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-ells/) > [We have two day-parts, lunch and dinner. We don't have breakfast. We don't have drive-thru. We don't have late night. We don't have 24-hours.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-ells/we-have-two-day-parts-lunch-and-dinner-we-don-t-have-breakfast-we-don/) [Steve Ells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-ells/) > [If we really want to change the way Americans eat, we need to make delicious, sustainably-raised food accessible to everyone. Most people are not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-ells/if-we-really-want-to-change-the-way-americans-eat-we-need-to-make/) [Steve Ells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-ells/) > [Our investors are here for only one reason: great returns. They want to make money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-ells/our-investors-are-here-for-only-one-reason-great-returns-they-want-to/) [Steve Ells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-ells/) > [One of the pivotal moments for me was realizing that our 'food with integrity' approach at Chipotle was satisfying my passion. That's about bringing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-ells/one-of-the-pivotal-moments-for-me-was-realizing-that-our-food-with/) [Steve Ells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-ells/) > [When our folks focus on exactly what is needed to succeed in the restaurants, they should be able to lead themselves to restaurateur level.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-ells/when-our-folks-focus-on-exactly-what-is-needed-to-succeed-in-the/) [Steve Ells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-ells/) > [I'm very much looking forward to relentlessly focusing on ensuring an excellent guest experience, removing unnecessary complexity from our operations, championing innovation, and pursuing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-ells/i-m-very-much-looking-forward-to-relentlessly-focusing-on-ensuring-an/) [Steve Ells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-ells/) > [When our employees walk in in the morning, they see food. They have to cook. At the restaurants, we chop cilantro, onions, and limes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-ells/when-our-employees-walk-in-in-the-morning-they-see-food-they-have-to/) [Steve Ells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-ells/) > [We want to show all of our customers that the industry standards that we had been employing before - which are considered great standards…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-ells/we-want-to-show-all-of-our-customers-that-the-industry-standards-that/) [Steve Ells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-ells/) > [The earliest recollection I have of being in the kitchen and cooking was in the third grade, and we lived in Germany. And I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-ells/the-earliest-recollection-i-have-of-being-in-the-kitchen-and-cooking/) [Steve Ells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-ells/) > [We aspire to make artisanal tortillas on an industrial scale.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-ells/we-aspire-to-make-artisanal-tortillas-on-an-industrial-scale/) [Steve Ells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-ells/) > [We have a terrific team, and our managers are terrific managers, but we have made it too complicated for them and too complicated in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-ells/we-have-a-terrific-team-and-our-managers-are-terrific-managers-but-we/) [Steve Ells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-ells/) > [If food is processed - like canned or frozen - you can reduce the risks of pathogens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-ells/if-food-is-processed-like-canned-or-frozen-you-can-reduce-the-risks/) [Steve Ells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-ells/) [Explore all 70 Steve Ells quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-ells/) ## More Chipotle quotes > [I'm the voice of a Chipotle Burrito. The world has changed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-tambor/i-m-the-voice-of-a-chipotle-burrito-the-world-has-changed/) [Jeffrey Tambor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-tambor/) > [I can eat Chipotle all day long for years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lennon-parham/i-can-eat-chipotle-all-day-long-for-years/) [Lennon Parham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lennon-parham/) > [I like to eat and Chipotle will fill you up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-sock/i-like-to-eat-and-chipotle-will-fill-you-up/) [Jack Sock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-sock/) > [I don't need a boyfriend. I have chipotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria/i-don-t-need-a-boyfriend-i-have-chipotle/) [Victoria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria/) > [If we really want to change the way Americans eat, we need to make delicious, sustainably-raised food accessible to everyone. Most people are not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-ells/if-we-really-want-to-change-the-way-americans-eat-we-need-to-make/) [Steve Ells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-ells/) > [One of the pivotal moments for me was realizing that our 'food with integrity' approach at Chipotle was satisfying my passion. That's about bringing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-ells/one-of-the-pivotal-moments-for-me-was-realizing-that-our-food-with/) [Steve Ells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-ells/) > [I love Chipotle. And I'm not just saying that. Like, I genuinely am in love with Chipotle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chloe-kim/i-love-chipotle-and-i-m-not-just-saying-that-like-i-genuinely-am-in/) [Chloe Kim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chloe-kim/) > [I think it is true that you can eat extremely healthy food at McDonald's, and you can eat amazingly badly at Chipotle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-specter/i-think-it-is-true-that-you-can-eat-extremely-healthy-food-at/) [Michael Specter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-specter/) > [I never tell the cashier at chipotle I got extra meat, thug life!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-never-tell-the-cashier-at-chipotle-i-got-extra-meat-thug-life/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The first Chipotle was intended to be my source of funding for a full-scale restaurant, a means to an end. But it turned out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-ells/the-first-chipotle-was-intended-to-be-my-source-of-funding-for-a-full/) [Steve Ells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-ells/) > [Don't be a jerk. Try to love everyone. Give more than you take. And do it despite the fact that you only really like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judd-apatow/don-t-be-a-jerk-try-to-love-everyone-give-more-than-you-take-and-do/) [Judd Apatow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judd-apatow/) > [There's a place called Chipotle in the U.S. It's Mexican food where everything is made to order; you can get some rice, black beans,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cesaro/there-s-a-place-called-chipotle-in-the-u-s-it-s-mexican-food-where/) [Cesaro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cesaro/) > [If you don't know my name and you don't know what movie I'm from, don't come ask for a picture while I'm trying to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ansel-elgort/if-you-don-t-know-my-name-and-you-don-t-know-what-movie-i-m-from-don/) [Ansel Elgort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ansel-elgort/) > [Hillary went to a Chipotle in a tortilla pantsuit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-letterman/hillary-went-to-a-chipotle-in-a-tortilla-pantsuit/) [David Letterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-letterman/) > [Chipotle is really showing that there's a better way to do fast food.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-ells/chipotle-is-really-showing-that-there-s-a-better-way-to-do-fast-food/) [Steve Ells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-ells/) [Browse all 41 Chipotle quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chipotle/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Chipotle was wildly successful, and I thought, 'Well, let me open one more.'", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Steve Ells" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-ells/chipotle-was-wildly-successful-and-i-thought-well-let-me-open-one-more/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Chipotle" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-ells/chipotle-was-wildly-successful-and-i-thought-well-let-me-open-one-more/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d1f/steve-ells-9755_chipotle_chipotle-was-wildly-successful-and-i-tho_2904220.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d1f/steve-ells-9755_chipotle_chipotle-was-wildly-successful-and-i-tho_2904220.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d1f/steve-ells-9755_chipotle_chipotle-was-wildly-successful-and-i-tho_2904220.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Chipotle was wildly successful, and I thought, 'Well, let me open one more.'” — Steve Ells", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Steve Ells", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-ells/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Chipotle was wildly successful, and I...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-ells/chipotle-was-wildly-successful-and-i-thought-well-let-me-open-one-more/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-ells/chipotle-was-wildly-successful-and-i-thought-well-let-me-open-one-more/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```