Mr. Charlie’s Told Me So, the globally inventive, plant-based fast food brand with a mission-driven ethos, is preparing to enter Arizona for the first time.
The company announced its largest expansion deal to date—a multimillion-dollar development agreement to open 18 locations across Arizona in partnership with Exclusive Area Developer Patrick Lam, according to QSR Magazine. This move marks a significant milestone in Mr. Charlie’s nationwide franchise rollout and introduces the brand’s crave-worthy, feel-good menu to the Southwest for the first time.
“We always believed we’d get here—we just knew it would take a village. This isn’t a surprise, it’s a milestone,” Taylor McKinnon, co-founder of Mr. Charlie’s Told Me So, said in a news release. “Expanding into Arizona is personal for me, and taking this life-changing leap alongside Patrick makes it all the more meaningful. It’s not just about new stores, it’s about the people we meet, the lives we touch, and the kind of future we get to help build together. I’m just really grateful to be here for it.”
The first Arizona location will open in 2025 in Scottsdale, with additional cities to be announced. These stores will join successful Mr. Charlie’s locations in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Sydney, Australia, to offer the same iconic plant-based menu that features signature items like the Not a Cheeseburger and the Frowny Meal.
“Bringing Mr. Charlie’s to Arizona is more than a business move—it’s a mission,” Patrick Lam, President of Capital Markets at Access Capital Group, said in a news release. “We’re not just opening 18 stores; we’re planting the seeds of something bigger. These restaurants will be hubs of community, second chances, and delicious food. As an Arizonan, I’m proud to help redefine what fast food looks like in the state—and to do it with a brand that stands for something real.”
In conjunction with this expansion, Mr. Charlie’s Told Me So has appointed Adam Wilks as President, who introduced Lam to Mr. Charlie’s. A licensing veteran working with brands like Pinkberry, Cold Stone Creamery, and Yogen Früz, Wilks previously served as CEO of Carma HoldCo, where he scaled TYSON 2.0, Wooooo! Energy and Evol by Future into 19 countries alongside Mike Tyson, Ric Flair, and Future. With a deep understanding of operations, brand scaling, and consumer trends, Wilks will spearhead the company’s aggressive national growth strategy.
“Joining Mr. Charlie’s at this transformative moment is incredibly exciting,” Adam Wilks, newly appointed President of Mr. Charlie’s Told Me So, said in a news release. “The brand has already proven that purpose and profitability can go hand-in-hand in the QSR space. With our Arizona expansion and ambitious growth plans, we’re poised to revolutionize the fast-food landscape by combining delicious plant-based options with meaningful social impact. I look forward to leveraging my experience to accelerate our national footprint while staying true to the mission that makes Mr. Charlie’s so special.”
