Bobby Flay also blames Chipotle for Soul Daddy's demise

Jamawn Woods isn't the only one blaming Denver-based Chipotle for the spectacular failure of his three Soul Daddy restaurants, which closed just weeks after the Detroit resident landed the grand prize on reality-TV show America's Next Great Restaurant. Steve Ells's fellow panelist and investor, Bobby Flay, is also pointing the...

By Laura Shunk

August 16, 2011

What happens on the ground matters — Your support makes it possible.

We’re aiming to raise $17,000 by August 10, so we can deepen our reporting on the critical stories unfolding right now: grassroots protests, immigration, politics and more.

Contribute Now

Progress to goal

$17,000

$1,250

Audio By Carbonatix

[
          {
            "name": "GPT - Billboard - Slot Inline - Content - Labeled - No Desktop",
            "component": "23668565",
            "insertPoint": "2",
            "requiredCountToDisplay": "2"
          },{
            "name": "STN Player - Float - Mobile Only ",
            "component": "23853568",
            "insertPoint": "2",
            "requiredCountToDisplay": "2"
          },{
            "name": "Editor Picks",
            "component": "17242653",
            "insertPoint": "4",
            "requiredCountToDisplay": "1"
          },{
            "name": "Inline Links",
            "component": "18838239",
            "insertPoint": "8th",
            "startingPoint": 8,
            "requiredCountToDisplay": "7",
            "maxInsertions": 25
          },{
            "name": "GPT - 2x Rectangles Desktop, Tower on Mobile - Labeled",
            "component": "24956856",
            "insertPoint": "8th",
            "startingPoint": 8,
            "requiredCountToDisplay": "7",
            "maxInsertions": 25 
          
          },{
            "name": "Inline Links",
            "component": "18838239",
            "insertPoint": "8th",
            "startingPoint": 12,
            "requiredCountToDisplay": "11",
            "maxInsertions": 25
          },{
            "name": "GPT - Leaderboard to Tower - Slot Auto-select - Labeled",
            "component": "17676724",
            "insertPoint": "8th",
            "startingPoint": 12,
            "requiredCountToDisplay": "11",
            "maxInsertions": 25
          }
        ]

Jamawn Woods isn't the only one blaming Denver-based Chipotle for the spectacular failure of his three Soul Daddy restaurants, which closed just weeks after the Detroit resident landed the grand prize on reality-TV show America's Next Great Restaurant. Steve Ells's fellow panelist and investor, Bobby Flay, is also pointing the finger at the burrito-monger.

"It was just an unfortunate thing...once the show was over, it was really out of our hands. Chipotle was running it," the TV ~~loudmouth~~ personality told Eater in an interview.

The sentiment echoes Woods's accusations that Chipotle handed over crappy management teams to get Soul Daddy up and running and then didn't stay on for the year it had committed to.

Chipotle maintains that the investor group decided to shut down Soul Daddy after it generated "significant negative cash flows."

Flay also told Eater that he'd heard Woods was planning on opening a restaurant in Detroit. Chipotle will probably be happy when America's Next Great Restaurant is part of the distant past.

Follow @CafeWestword on Twitter and at facebook.com/denvercafesociety

Laura Shunk was Westword's restaurant critic from 2010 to 2012; she's also been food editor at the Village Voice and a dining columnist in Beijing. Her toughest assignment had her drinking ten martinis and eating ten Caesar salads over the course of 48 hours. She still drinks martinis, but remains lukewarm on Caesar salads.

A message from Food & Drink Editor Molly Martin: If you value independent journalism, please consider making a contribution to support our continued coverage of Denver’s evolving dining scene and the latest culinary innovations our community offers.

Support Today