Shelly and Tyson Robinson are opening their third Pancheros Mexican Grill location, bringing the fresh-Mex chain to Waukee, Iowa, on September 8. The new restaurant joins the couple's existing locations in West Des Moines and Johnston, both of which Shelly took over from her father nearly a decade ago after growing up immersed in the brand as an Iowa native.
The Waukee restaurant spans roughly 2,600 square feet and will offer Pancheros' signature fresh-pressed tortillas, grilled proteins and made-to-order burritos, along with a mobile pickup and drive-through window and dedicated parking for digital orders. Its opening comes as the Robinsons mark more than 20 years of combined operation at their West Des Moines and Johnston locations, both of which have become fixtures in their communities.
That community presence extends beyond the counter. The Robinsons have spent years supporting youth sports programs by providing meals for local teams and hosting Queso for a Cause fundraising events, using their restaurants as a base for local giving alongside day-to-day operations.
Behind the scenes, the Robinsons are also investing in their existing locations. The Johnston restaurant is scheduled for a full remodel that will include updated flooring and interior finishes, along with the addition of a second make line to help the location keep pace with growing digital order volume. Running three locations with overlapping projects like a remodel, a new opening and rising order volume requires a way to keep staff aligned. Gorilla Dash offers a Resource Library feature designed to give multi-unit franchisees a centralized place to store operational guides and updates, helping teams across several restaurants stay consistent as each location evolves.
To mark the Waukee opening, the Robinsons will offer loyalty members one-dollar burritos from September 15 through 19 using a code available through the Pancheros app, with a limited number of redemptions available. The new location will also take part in the brand's September Queso Challenge and honor National Queso Day on September 20, giving loyalty members free queso with their entree.
