Bobby Flay also blames Chipotle for Soul Daddy's demise

Laura Shunk August 16, 2011 2:13PM

[
          {
            "name": "Related Stories / Support Us Combo",
            "component": "12017627",
            "insertPoint": "4",
            "requiredCountToDisplay": "6"
          },
          {
            "name": "Air - Billboard - Inline Content",
            "component": "12017623",
            "insertPoint": "2/3",
            "requiredCountToDisplay": "7"
          },
          
          {
            "name": "Air - MediumRectangle - Inline Content - Mobile Display Size 2",
            "component": "12017624",
            "insertPoint": "12",
            "requiredCountToDisplay": "12"
          },{
            "name": "Air - MediumRectangle - Inline Content - Mobile Display Size 2",
            "component": "12017624",
            "insertPoint": "4th",
            "startingPoint": "16",
            "requiredCountToDisplay": "12"
          }
          
            ,{
              "name": "RevContent - In Article",
              "component": "13027957",
              "insertPoint": "3/5",
              "requiredCountToDisplay": "5"
            }
          
        ]

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

KEEP WESTWORD FREE... Since we started Westword, it has been defined as the free, independent voice of Denver, and we'd like to keep it that way. With local media under siege, it's more important than ever for us to rally support behind funding our local journalism. You can help by participating in our "I Support" program, allowing us to keep offering readers access to our incisive coverage of local news, food and culture with no paywalls.

Make a one-time donation today for as little as $1.

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.

Contact: Laura Shunk

Follow:

Twitter: @laurashunk

Instagram: @laurashunk

Bobby Flay also blames Chipotle for Soul Daddy's demise

Trending Restaurants

[%title%]

This Week's Issue

Bobby Flay also blames Chipotle for Soul Daddy's demise

Trending Restaurants

[%title%]

Latest Stories

This Week's Issue