Marc Torres started his journey with Cheba Hut in perfect “cheba” fashion - a failed drug test foiled his job prospects with the City of Fort Collins, and a snarky friend said “you should go work at Cheba Hut, I bet they don’t drug test!”.  Marc started on the front line (and claims he remains an excellent sandwich maker) and worked his way up in the ranks to store manager, and eventually became the primary trainer for new franchisees.  He managed a premier location owned by the founder of Cheba Hut, Scott Jennings, and developed many of the systems and training processes that allowed the chain to grow and provide a consistent experience in new locations.  The stories of LoCo Think Tank and Cheba Hut are long intertwined - it was Scott that famously told your host in 2015 - “Bear, you should park that F&$%in’ food trailer in your backyard and go get a job”.  

A few years into his time with Cheba Hut, Marc got a DUI, and a year later - another one.  This began the “indentured servant” phase of his career, when Scott sent him to live and open a new location in Greeley - and where he reconnected with his now-wife.  He continued to bring value to the franchise, moving to Arizona for a few years to work on (mostly unsuccessful) West Coast expansion efforts, and then returning to Fort Collins as Director of Operations in 2010.  He became COO in 2014, and partnered with Scott and another franchisee to build an HQ-supported super-franchisee designed to open new locations and grow the brand and systems for further growth - and it’s been working.  They’ve recently been among the fastest-growing franchises in the industry; now boast 55 locations and expect to bring 5 more online before year-end, and open another 12-15 locations in 2024!   

Marc has been a LoCo Think Tank member almost as long as LoCo Think Tank has existed, originally part of the Thinkers Too chapter and a founding member of our first Next Level chapter.  He’s a driven and authentic leader, a first generation college graduate, and you’re going to love his heart - so please join as we share the special journey of Marc Torres and Cheba Hut “Toasted” Subs.

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Music By: A Brother's Fountain