Mendocino Farms Expands in Bay Area
The sandwich and salad chain Mendocino Farms has opened a new location in Dublin. The company plans to continue its regional expansion with two additional Bay Area restaurants slated to open later in 2026.
- The two additional restaurants slated for 2026 are planned for Mill Valley, with a potential spring opening, and Concord, which is scheduled for the fall. - The Dublin restaurant is the 16th Mendocino Farms in the Bay Area; the company first expanded from its Southern California base to the region in late 2017. - Private equity firm TPG Inc. acquired a majority stake in the company in 2017, a deal that preceded a national expansion strategy. Whole Foods Market also holds a minority stake in the chain. - The company's CEO, Kevin Miles, has a stated goal of reaching 150 units within five years and expanding eastward to become a national chain. All current locations are company-owned, with no immediate plans to franchise. - Co-founder Ellen Chen is a native of Lafayette, CA; she started the chain with Mario Del Pero in Los Angeles in 2005. - The brand's growth strategy now increasingly targets suburban areas, a shift from its pre-pandemic focus on dense, urban downtown locations. - In fiscal year 2023, the chain's average unit volume (AUV) was nearly $3.9 million, with sales up more than 22% to $220.5 million.
