# Steve Ells

> Steve Ells is the American chef and entrepreneur who founded Chipotle Mexican Grill in Denver in 1993 and led it as CEO and later executive chairman. After leaving its board in 2020, he developed Kernel, a robot-assisted restaurant that became Counter Service, where he serves as founder and chief concept officer.

- **Role:** Founder and Chief Concept Officer at Counter Service
- **Organizations:** Chipotle Mexican Grill, Kernel Foods, Counter Service, Stars
- **From:** Indianapolis, United States
- **Nationality:** American
- **Education:** B.A. in Art History, University of Colorado Boulder, Culinary degree, Culinary Institute of America
- **Known for:** Founded Chipotle Mexican Grill and helped popularize fast-casual dining., Led Chipotle through expansion and its 2006 public listing., Developed Chipotle’s Food With Integrity sourcing approach.

## Career timeline

- **1988** — Graduated from the University of Colorado Boulder with a degree in art history.
- **1990** — Graduated from the Culinary Institute of America, then worked at Jeremiah Tower’s Stars in San Francisco.
- **1993** — Opened the first Chipotle near the University of Denver with $85,000 in family backing.
- **1998** — McDonald’s invested in Chipotle.
- **2003** — Chipotle introduced the burrito bowl.
- **2006** — Chipotle went public; McDonald’s divested.
- **2009** — Began sharing the CEO role with Monty Moran.
- **2016** — Returned to the sole CEO role.
- **2018** — Became executive chairman when Brian Niccol became CEO.
- **2020** — Stepped down as executive chairman and director in March.
- **2024** — Opened Kernel in Manhattan in February.
- **2025** — Pivoted from Kernel to the sandwich concept Counter Service.
- **2026** — Delivered Baruch College’s June 1 commencement address and received an honorary doctorate.

## Achievements

- Founded Chipotle Mexican Grill and helped popularize fast-casual dining.
- Led Chipotle through expansion and its 2006 public listing.
- Developed Chipotle’s Food With Integrity sourcing approach.
- Received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from Baruch College in June 2026.

## Latest updates

- **2026-07** — Reporting described plans for Counter Service to expand beyond New York, including Charlotte and Dallas in 2027; these were plans rather than confirmed openings.
- **2026-06** — Delivered Baruch College’s commencement address and received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters on June 1.
- **2026-05** — Counter Service signed a lease for a Wall Street location.
- **2026-03** — Trade reporting described four Manhattan Counter Service locations and the partnership with CEO Tom Cortese.

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/steve-ells
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-10-23