Chili’s is preparing to put more restaurants on the map after another year of rising sales. Parent company Brinker International used its September 17 investor day to outline a growth plan that includes building new Chili’s locations and remodeling existing restaurants. Brinker’s announcement
Brinker’s target is to reach 30 new restaurant openings annually by fiscal 2029. Across the company, it is aiming for annual revenue growth of 4% to 6%, supported by unit growth of 2% to 3%. Those are future targets, with the opening pace expected to build over time.
The expansion follows a substantial improvement at Chili’s existing restaurants. The chain posted comparable sales growth of 9.2% in fiscal 2026, following a 25.3% increase in fiscal 2025, according to Brinker’s earnings presentation. Comparable sales measure performance at established restaurants, helping separate their results from the effect of adding locations. Fiscal 2026 results
Photo: Chili’s / Brinker International. Brand menu photography.
That stronger sales base changes the case for expansion. A restaurant concept that can attract repeat visits has a better starting point for opening in a new neighborhood, although construction costs and local demand still determine whether an individual location works.
The company also has room to rebuild its footprint. Restaurant Dive reported that Chili’s had 1,110 company-operated U.S. restaurants at the end of fiscal 2026, compared with 1,131 in fiscal 2022. Executives discussed opportunities in smaller markets and in areas where the chain has relatively few restaurants. Restaurant Dive’s investor-day coverage
CEO Kevin Hochman said Brinker would continue investing in food, value and hospitality alongside the additional spending on remodels and new restaurants.
For customers, the plan could eventually mean a closer Chili’s or a refreshed dining room. The immediate test for the company is whether it can carry the performance of its existing restaurants into the next wave of openings.
Main photo: A Chili’s restaurant. Courtesy of Chili’s / Brinker International.
