September 02, 2026 // Franchising.com // Waukee, IA — Pancheros Mexican Grill, the Iowa-born, fresh-Mex concept known for its fresh-pressed tortillas and delicious queso, will continue planting its Iowa roots with a new location coming to Waukee next week.
Opening on Tuesday, September 8, the new Waukee restaurant marks the third restaurant for longtime Pancheros franchisees, Shelly and Tyson Robinson. After assuming ownership of the West Des Moines and Johnston locations from Shelly’s father nearly a decade ago, the Robinsons will now expand their footprint with a new location, with their existing locations both recently celebrating 20+ years in business. Their continued partnership demonstrates the local family’s investment in the brand, as well as the growing demand for more Pancheros locations in Iowa after more than 34 years of serving guests and building fandom throughout the state.
“As an Iowa native that grew up with Pancheros, having the opportunity to grow this brand within the local community is incredibly fulfilling,” said Shelly Robinson, franchisee of the new Waukee restaurant and the Johnston and West Des Moines locations. “We’re proud to keep growing with a brand so many love and to continue investing in Waukee and the greater Des Moines community that we’re so proud to call home.”
Since joining the Pancheros franchise system more than two decades ago, Shelly and her family have built a strong presence in the communities they serve. The Robinsons have made local involvement a consistent part of their business, including supporting youth sports programs throughout the region by providing meals for local teams and hosting Queso for a Cause events to raise funds for local causes.
In addition to the new Waukee location, the Robinsons recently celebrated 21 years of serving guests at the West Des Moines location and 20 years at the Johnston location. The Johnston restaurant will also soon undergo a full remodel, including refreshed flooring and interior finishes, as well as the addition of a second make line designed to streamline digital orders.
The Waukee Pancheros will be located at 2980 Grand Prairie Pkwy #100 Waukee, IA 50263 and will be open from 10:30 a.m. – 10 p.m. daily. This location will feature approximately 2,600 square feet of kitchen and dining space, offering Pancheros’ signature burritos made with fresh-pressed tortillas, marinated and grilled proteins and house-made salsas, all mixed together evenly using Bob the Tool—a proprietary spatula created by the brand—to ensure every bite is the perfect bite.. The restaurant will also include a mobile pick-up/drive-thru window, designated parking for digital orders, and a second make-line.
Following the September 8 opening, the new Waukee location will offer $1 burritos for loyalty members from September 15-19. Locals can secure their $1 burrito by downloading the Pancheros app, selecting “MORE,” then “COUPON” and entering code “KEETOWN1” where prompted. 1,000 codes will be available in total. Extras are still extra.
The new Waukee location will also participate in Pancheros’ September Queso Challenge, allowing loyalty members to earn half off an entrée after ordering queso four times during the month. The location will also honor Pancheros’ National Queso Day offer on September 20, when loyalty members can receive free queso on their entrée.
For more information about Pancheros Mexican Grill and/or its franchising program, visit https://pancheros.com/franchise/.
Founded in Iowa City in 1992, Pancheros is a fan favorite in the Mexican, fast-casual space, featuring delicious, made-to-order burritos, bowls, salads, quesadillas and more. The brand leads with a dedication to high-quality food based on simplicity, inspiring the concept of Burritos Better Built. With the customer in mind, Pancheros introduced the Fresher Presser 7000 to fresh press every tortilla ordered and created Bob the Tool® to seamlessly mix burrito ingredients, all in search of the perfect bite. Pancheros has grown to 75 locations across 12 states with a robust franchising program and has developed a fierce fanbase through its loyalty program. For information about the company, visit https://www.pancheros.com. To learn about franchising opportunities with Pancheros, visit https://pancherosfranchise.com.
SOURCE Pancheros
Pancheros Mexican Grill is a quick-serve, fresh- Mexican franchise that serves its signature fresh-pressed tortillas filled with the freshest, highest- quality ingredients.