In the Lehigh Valley, a fast-casual restaurant business is booming!!
A new site of QDOBA Mexican Eats, a fast-casual Mexican restaurant business with roughly 840 outlets in 45 states as well as in Canada, Puerto Rico, Japan and South Korea, is coming soon to 6216 Hamilton Blvd. in Lower Macungie Township, Lehigh County.
The new QDOBA cafe will occupy a soon-to-be refurbished facility that was once home the Lehigh Valley’s first drive-thru Wawa shop, which closed in January 2025. The Lower Macungie QDOBA site will be run by The Integritty Group, a restaurant management and development company led by founders Jiger Patel, Pranav Desai and Raj Mahadevia.
An official opening date has not yet been established, but the Hamilton Boulevard restaurant is likely to open in the second or third quarter of this year. The prior Wawa facility only served drive-thru customers, and the Lower Macungie property will shortly undergo renovations that involve reworking the architecture to allow for indoor dining area.
Derek Zerfass, senior vice president of Colliers’ Allentown office, facilitated the lease and is enthusiastic for the new QDOBA restaurant to debut at the site – located along a popular stretch of Hamilton Boulevard – later this year. The restaurant property is flanked by other famous businesses, including the Lehigh Valley’s first Raising Cane’s and Movie Tavern location.
HOMES FOR SALE IN LOWER MACUNGIE TOWNSHIP, PA
QDOBA produces freshly-made, Mexican-inspired food “crafted with current tastes that visitors crave." The food start with great ingredients and meticulous preparation, taking pride in cooking meals in our kitchens each day. Whether it’s slicing crisp produce, flame-grilling steak and poultry, or producing hand-crafted guacamole, they don’t take shortcuts.
QDOBA menu highlights include burritos, bowls, quesadillas, nachos, tacos and salads. With over 30 elements, you can "build your own masterpiece" or select a trademark creation. Proteins like brisket birria, grilled steak, grilled adobo chicken, Cholula hot and sweet chicken, seasoned ground beef, and slow-braised pulled pork are among the options; rice and beans include cilantro lime rice, brown rice, black beans, and pinto beans; salsa and sauces include freshly made pico de gallo, roasted tomato salsa, chile corn salsa, citrus lime vinaigrette, salsa verde, Mexican street corn, pickled lettuce, sour cream, cilantro, and crispy tortilla strips. Additionally, a range of chips and dips are available, including queso diablo, three-cheese queso, and hand-made guacamole.
In Denver, Colorado, QDOBA was first established in 1995 as Zuma Fresh Mexican Grill. In 1997, the brand was renamed Z-TECA; in 1999, it became QDOBA Mexican Grill; and in 2015, it became QDOBA Mexican Eats.
In 2011, the company opened its 600th store;
In 2012, it opened its first overseas location in Canada;
In 2016, it relocated its headquarters from Denver to San Diego;
In 2021, it introduced 100% recyclable, strawless lids and compostable bowls;
In 2022, it opened its first location in Puerto Rico.
The company's respect the communities they proudly serve by conducting fundraisers in over 700 local QDOBA restaurants." Additionally, they honor first responders by providing frontline employees with QDOBA cuisine. Also has collaborations with Toonies for Tummies in Canada and No Kid Hungry in the US have helped fight childhood food insecurity by generating money and feeding over 5 million kids.
In addition to sites of other restaurant brands like Checkers, The Greene Turtle, and Dave's Hot Chicken, the Integritty Group runs over 40 QDOBA outlets in five states. Additionally, the Integritty Group has two QDOBA locations in the Lehigh Valley: one on MacArthur Road in Whitehall Township, which opened in 2012, and another on Schoenersville Road in Bethlehem, which opened in 2024.