Cafe Rio Mexican Grill Continues to Expand, Opening 3 More Locations in So. California with Virginia and Boise to Follow

COSTA MESA, Calif., April 16 /PRNewswire/ -- The restaurant group headed by CEO Bob Nilsen, former CEO of Burger King and Taco Bell, and his team are in a major expansion mode in California and many other states. The company currently operates over 30 restaurants in Utah, Nevada, Idaho, California, Colorado, Arizona and by the end of this year, Virginia and Boise. With recent openings in Lake Forest and Manhattan Beach, Cafe Rio's expansion plan for 2010 includes Tustin, Oxnard, and various other sites TBA.

"This is an exciting time for Cafe Rio; our expansion has led us to three additional openings in California: Costa Mesa this Monday, Tustin and Oxnard over the next two months," states Cafe Rio CEO Bob Nilsen. "In all of our new markets, we invite everyone to come out and experience Mexican food unlike anything they have ever tasted. With these openings, we expect the large list of California 'Super Fans' to grow even more."

Cafe Rio's cult-like following call themselves "Super Fans." If history prevails, the Costa Mesa location is likely to follow suit, having a lot of these dedicated individuals camping out in the parking lot the night before the restaurant opens.

"We are thrilled to have Cafe Rio open in Costa Mesa," says Mayor Alan Mansoor. "The restaurant's high standards and commitment to fresh and high-quality ingredients will fit in well with the healthy lifestyle of Costa Mesa residents."

Cafe Rio recently received the prestigious Sandelman and Associates' 2009 Quick Track Award of Excellence and was rated the number-one quick-service Mexican restaurant in the nation for customer satisfaction, an Oscar equivalent in the restaurant industry. Governor of Utah Gary R. Herbert recognized this Salt Lake City-based restaurant by officially declaring April 5th as Cafe Rio Day, Utah's first-ever declared day for a quick-service restaurant.

Cafe Rio Mexican Grill, Inc.:

Cafe Rio Mexican Grill, Inc., headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah, is one of the leading quick casual restaurants specializing in fresh Mexican cuisine. The company currently operates over 30 restaurants in Utah, Nevada, Idaho, California, Colorado, Arizona and by the end of the year, Washington D.C. Its primary business is specializing in serving their customers the highest-quality meals with the freshest ingredients both through their restaurant locations and catering business. Cafe Rio's web address is http://www.caferio.com.

**** Camera crews and all media are welcome for an announcement on Monday, April 19 for the Costa Mesa opening at 12:00 p.m. with the Mayor and Cafe Rio CEO Bob Nilsen. Q & A session and interview opportunities will be made available from 12:00 p.m. - 12:30 p.m. Cafe Rio location is at 253 East 17th St., Costa Mesa ****

If you would like more information on this topic or to schedule an interview or appearance with CEO Bob, please contact Cafe Rio Media Representative: Jennifer Burns 310-993-9494 or [email protected]    

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SOURCE Cafe Rio Mexican Grill, Inc.