News Summary
El Pollo Loco is celebrating National Chicken Month this September with the ‘Let’s Get Loco’ campaign, offering a giveaway of up to $1 million in fire-grilled chicken. The fast-food chain is also relocating its headquarters to The MET office campus in Costa Mesa, after nearly 20 years at its current location. This move aims to reflect the brand’s commitment to innovation and improvement in customer experience. With plans to expand and a significant increase in sales, El Pollo Loco continues to evolve in the competitive fast-food industry.
Costa Mesa
El Pollo Loco is kicking off National Chicken Month this September with a new initiative, “Let’s Get Loco,” which includes a giveaway of up to $1 million worth of fire-grilled chicken. This promotional campaign highlights the fast-food chain’s commitment to its customers while also marking significant changes within the company, including the relocation of its headquarters after nearly 20 years.
The company has signed a new seven-year lease for its headquarters at The MET office campus, located less than four miles from its current site on Harbor Boulevard in Costa Mesa. The new office will occupy 20,298 square feet, which is slightly smaller than its existing location covering 24,890 square feet. The cost of the new lease is $46.20 per square foot, according to CoStar data, while the current lease is set to expire in 2026.
With over 1,400 employees in Orange County, including 175 based at the headquarters, the move to the modern office aims to better reflect the brand and incorporate a test kitchen for culinary innovations. This relocation aligns with El Pollo Loco’s recent brand refresh and the rollout of a new iconic restaurant design.
El Pollo Loco’s executive leadership team boasts extensive experience in the restaurant industry, contributing to the chain’s growth and popularity. The company has reported a 52% increase in system sales over the past ten years, with a 24% rise in average unit volumes. Plans are also in place to open 10 new restaurants in 2025, expanding the brand’s footprint potentially outside California.
The infrastructure at The MET is nearing 80% leased occupancy, with a total of 75,000 square feet of office space leased year-to-date. A significant investment from McCarthy Cook is anticipated, focusing on hospitality and amenity enhancements at The MET, including an upscale restaurant and a pickleball club.
Additionally, El Pollo Loco is facing potential acquisition discussions as activist investor Sardar Biglari has made an unsolicited offer to acquire the company through Biglari Capital. Biglari currently owns 15% of El Pollo Loco shares and has a history of acquiring various restaurant chains. Simultaneously, discussions with CapitalSpring, a private-equity group that owns 5.2% of the chain, are ongoing and unrelated to the potential acquisition by Biglari.
As the company prepares for these changes along with the upcoming National Chicken Month promotions, it remains focused on providing high-quality food and enhancing the dining experience for its customers. El Pollo Loco reflects on its journey from a single restaurant to a company with a prominent market cap of $328 million, even as shares traded around $10.93 in 2025, showing a 4.2% decline since January.
Overall, El Pollo Loco’s combination of promotional campaigns, a modern workspace, and growth strategies exemplifies its commitment to innovation and customer satisfaction as it navigates through a pivotal season in the fast-food industry.
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Additional Resources
- OC Business Journal: El Pollo Loco Relocating HQ
- GlobeNewswire: El Pollo Loco Financial Results
- LA Magazine: El Pollo Loco Faces Takeover
- NRN: El Pollo Loco Adds Chicken Sandwiches
- Restaurant Business Online: CapitalSpring Involvement
- Wikipedia: El Pollo Loco
- Google Search: El Pollo Loco
- Google Scholar: El Pollo Loco
- Encyclopedia Britannica: El Pollo Loco
- Google News: El Pollo Loco
Author: STAFF HERE COSTA MESA WRITER
COSTA MESA STAFF WRITER The COSTA MESA STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HERECostaMesa.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Costa Mesa, Orange County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as the OC Fair, Concerts in the Park, and Fish Fry. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Costa Mesa Chamber of Commerce and Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Orange Coast, plus leading businesses in retail, fashion, and technology that power the local economy such as Vans, Experian, and South Coast Plaza. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREAnaheim.com, HEREBeverlyHills.com, HERECoronado.com, HEREHollywood.com, HEREHuntingtonBeach.com, HERELongBeach.com, HERELosAngeles.com, HEREMissionViejo.com, HERESanDiego.com, and HERESantaAna.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into California's dynamic landscape.
