Since then, Tijuana Flats has grown to more than 100 restaurants in six very lucky states. Remember the dad who reluctantly loaned his son $20K? Yup, Chester Wheeler left a 30-year career at a Fortune 500 company to become CFO of Tijuana Flats. In ‘99, Brian’s success caught the eye of former restaurant industry hotshot Camp Fitch, who left retirement to become partner & chairman of Tijuana Flats. We Think The Kid’s Onto Something (Or Maybe He’s Just On Something) Turns out, the burning was just hot sauce he’d eaten, but Brian saw it as a sign and created his own line of hot sauces shortly thereafter-the “Smack My Ass & Call Me Sally” brand, which includes some of the hottest sauces in the world. While most college grads (yes, Brian graduated from UCF, or so he says) would be stoked just to own their own restaurant, deep down Brian had a burning desire to do more. And after much begging and pleading, his dad loaned him $20,000 & Brian opened the first Tijuana Flats in Winter Park, Florida.
So Brian decided to open his own restaurant despite having never worked in one before (brilliant, right?). But over time, the good times got the best of him and just going out no longer cut it.
(And restaurants, too.) At first, it was just harmless fun. Back in ‘95, this college kid, Brian Wheeler, walked into a bar. How’d Tijuana Flats become Tijuana Flats? Funny story, really. Our Story The Free Wheelin’ Brian Wheeler
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