Baja Fresh Mexican Grill, the healthful Mexican restaurant chain, has officially moved its corporate headquarters from Thousand Oaks to Cypress.
The move is part of a consolidation by Baja Fresh’s owner, Cypress-based Fresh Enterprise Inc., an investment group run by David Kim.
Baja Fresh left Thousand Oaks last month, according to a report in the Ventura Star newspaper.
Baja Fresh had been based in Thousand Oaks since 2002 when it was still part of Ohio-based Wendy’s International Inc., itself a unit of Atlanta-based Wendy’s/Arby’s Group Inc.
Kim bought Baja Fresh from Wendy’s in 2006 for about $31 million, well below the $275 million Wendy’s bought the brand for in 2002.
It is estimated about 60 people worked at the Thousand Oaks office.
Fresh Enterprises operates and franchises nearly 300 Baja Fresh restaurants, mostly in California and about 20 other states.
It was expected that Kim would combine the Baja Fresh with his other restaurant operations in Cypress.
Fresh Enterprise also operates the 100-unit La Salsa Fresh Mexican Grill chain, a The Sweet Factory candy store chain and is a franchisee of Cinnabon and Denny’s outlets in Orange County.
Baja Fresh, started in 1990s in Newbury Park, features made-to-order burritos and tacos, as well as quesadillas, nachos and salads.
