Chili’s, a popular Tex-Mex restaurant chain, is planning to expand its presence across the United States after experiencing a notable increase in sales. The company, owned by Brinker International, aims to open 20 to 30 new locations each year through fiscal 2029. This growth strategy includes a goal of increasing its total number of restaurants by 2 to 3 percent annually. According to Brinker’s Chief Financial Officer, Mika Ware, the company has identified up to 300 potential sites for new restaurants, though not all of these will become Chili’s locations. This expansion follows five years of strong sales performance, with same-store sales—meaning sales at existing locations—rising by 71 percent during that time. The number of weekly visits per restaurant has grown from around 3,400 in fiscal 2023 to 4,200 in fiscal 2026, leading to average annual sales increasing from about $3.3 million to $5 million. Chili’s is exploring both familiar and new markets, including regions with few existing restaurants and smaller communities. For example, in Washington state, Chili’s currently has only one streetside restaurant, compared to about 35 to 40 locations by its closest competitors. Chili’s plans to continue expanding in key markets such as California, Texas, and Florida, where it already has the most locations. The company has eight new locations in the works in Texas and Florida. It is also targeting other regions, including the Carolinas, Georgia, Virginia, the Washington, D.C. area, and Ohio. Brinker’s CEO, Kevin Hochman, mentioned that in Ohio, there is significant room for growth, as the two closest competitors have about four times as many restaurants there. In addition to expanding into new areas, Chili’s is implementing a “small town strategy,” looking beyond major suburbs for potential locations. In the Northeast, where real estate is expensive, the company may convert existing restaurants into Chili’s locations or acquire smaller restaurant chains to gain access to their real estate. This sales growth is partly due to a focus on value, including the “Better Than Fast Food” campaign, a simpler menu, and faster service. The chain has invested $180 million in front-of-house improvements, such as bringing back bussers, adding handheld ordering devices, and updating kitchen screens. New Chili’s restaurants cost about $5 million to $6 million to build, but newer locations are already generating more than $5 million in sales. The company also plans to remodel about 110 existing Chili’s restaurants annually starting in fiscal 2028.