A smothered Café Mexicali burrito in a tin on the signature checkered tile counter
Founders and operators

About the founders

Two founders who work in the restaurants, and a direct line to both of them.

The short answer

Café Mexicali was started by Rick Krammer and David Hoffman.

Café Mexicali was founded in 2005 in Fort Collins, Colorado, by Rick Krammer and David Hoffman. Rick leads the culinary and people side as Chief Executive Officer of the four affiliates that own and operate the Colorado restaurants. David, a former Naval officer and mechanical engineer, leads operations and strategy as Chief Development Officer.

The two founders

Built by operators, not suits.

Franchise development is led by Jim DelVecchio, and you meet both founders before you sign.

Co-founder

Rick Krammer

Rick leads the culinary and people side of the brand. He previously served as Head of Franchising for a 22-location, multi-state restaurant brand and is Chief Executive Officer of the four affiliates that own and operate the Colorado restaurants.

Co-founder

David Hoffman

A former Naval officer and mechanical engineer, David leads operations and strategy, bringing systems thinking to every restaurant. He is Chief Development Officer of the four affiliates.

The origin

Fort Collins, 2005.

Café Mexicali started as one scratch-made restaurant in Fort Collins, Colorado, in 2005.

Everything on the menu is made from scratch in the restaurant. Guests build their own meal in signature tins, and the brand built a following before it ever franchised.

Four affiliate-owned restaurants operate in Colorado today, in Fort Collins, Johnstown, Greeley, and Windsor. They are where franchisees visit a working store and where training is expected to take place.

Inside a Café Mexicali dining room with a colorful tile-topped table in the foreground
Culture

Five pillars guide the brand.

These are the five culture pillars of Café Mexicali.

  • I. Principled Leadership
  • II. Enduring and Resilient
  • III. Team Leadership
  • IV. Win-Win Mindset
  • V. Consistency to Quality
Questions

Quick answers.

Who founded Café Mexicali?

Rick Krammer and David Hoffman founded Café Mexicali in 2005 in Fort Collins, Colorado.

What does Rick Krammer do?

Rick leads the culinary and people side of the brand and is Chief Executive Officer of the four affiliates that own and operate the Colorado restaurants. He previously served as Head of Franchising for a 22-location, multi-state restaurant brand.

What does David Hoffman do?

David is a former Naval officer and mechanical engineer. He leads operations and strategy and is Chief Development Officer of the four affiliates.

Where are the affiliate restaurants?

Fort Collins, Johnstown, Greeley, and Windsor, Colorado.

What are the five culture pillars?

Principled Leadership, Enduring and Resilient, Team Leadership, Win-Win Mindset, and Consistency to Quality.

Who will I talk to first?

Jim DelVecchio leads franchise development and calls within two business days of your application if your capital and timeline fit. You meet the founders before you sign.

See if you qualify

Café Mexicali burrito platter with fresh guacamole, pico de gallo, and crema on a wood board
Next step

Ready to see if you qualify?

Two minutes to apply. If your capital and timeline fit, Jim DelVecchio calls you within two business days.

Franchise opportunities in CO, AZ, WY, UTSee if you qualify