El Pollo Loco, which opened 50 years ago, has unveiled a restaurant prototype showcasing a more modern design featuring existing brand elements — fire stack gradient, logo and font — but with an updated color palette, footprint and use of materials. Specifics include interior and furniture upgrades to create a bright and airy space; LED lighting and energy-efficient hoods and HVAC, according to a company press release.
The design launch comes on the heels of hiring CDO Tim Welsh, a registered architect with over 25 years of experience in restaurant and retail design. Prior to joining El Pollo Loco, he was SVP of design and construction for TriMark, a provider of food service design and commercial kitchen construction. Before his time at TriMark, Welsh was the CDO at Crunch Fitness and Qdoba Mexican Eats.
Operating 495 restaurants across seven U.S. states, El Pollo Loco plans to open its 500th location by the end of 2024.
