Macheezmo Mouse
Macheezmo Mouse was an Oregon-based fast-food Mexican restaurant chain known for quick service, fresh ingredients, and comparatively health-conscious low-priced meals.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Macheezmo Mouse was a fast-food Mexican restaurant chain founded in Oregon in 1981 by William "Tiger" Warren with Michael Vidor. The business developed around a quick-service interpretation of Mexican food, emphasizing fresh ingredients, affordable prices, and menu choices that were perceived as healthier than much conventional fast food. Its name was adapted from one of Warren's nicknames. The chain initially operated in the Pacific Northwest and made an unsuccessful attempt to expand into the San Francisco Bay Area. By 1994, it had reached 13 restaurants in the Portland and Seattle areas and pursued an initial public offering to finance further expansion and support ongoing operations. The public-market debut briefly improved the company's access to capital: the shares opened at $6 and reportedly rose as high as $11. The expansion that followed eventually brought the chain to a peak of 23 restaurants. The growth phase was short-lived. Same-store sales declined sharply in the year after the offering, while profits fell substantially from their IPO-era level. The stock subsequently declined, and the company retrenched. In 1997, Macheezmo Mouse closed its remaining Seattle restaurants. It also attempted to broaden its business beyond company restaurants by offering packaged burritos through regional Costco stores, but this did not reverse the longer-term deterioration. By the end of the 1990s, the company’s shares were trading for only pennies. Warren died on November 27, 1999, when the de Havilland Beaver aircraft he was piloting crashed into the Columbia River shortly after takeoff. The restaurant business continued to decline, and in May 2003 the company closed its final four restaurants and filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy. Reports stated that some employees were left unpaid. The brand later became the subject of revival efforts. In 2010, Diane Hall, an early director, tried to bring back the chain’s Boss Sauce as a bottled product. Jeff and Danell Burlingame, who had met while working for Macheezmo Mouse, subsequently acquired the trademarks, recipes, and operating guides from Hall. In 2013 they announced plans to relaunch the restaurant and used an IndieGoGo campaign to test consumer interest and support a proposed initial location. The campaign sought $87,000 but raised less than $5,000. The Burlingames continued seeking investment, including a proposed $250,000 commitment for an initial restaurant, through 2015. No relaunch had occurred by 2022. Macheezmo Mouse also had a connection to Portland’s creative community. One Southeast Portland restaurant contained an interior mural by filmmaker and artist Gus Van Sant, a friend of Warren. The mural was later thought to have been painted over but was rediscovered in 2013 at the site associated with Chez Machin and subsequently Frog & Snail. The brand remains a regional example of an early fast-casual Mexican concept whose health-oriented positioning and inexpensive menu anticipated qualities later associated with broader fast-casual restaurant trends.
History
Macheezmo Mouse emerged in Oregon in 1981, founded by William "Tiger" Warren in collaboration with Michael Vidor. Warren adapted the unusual brand name from one of his nicknames. The concept was a Mexican fast-food restaurant designed around rapid service, accessible pricing, fresh ingredients, and menu choices marketed or understood as healthier than many competing fast-food offerings. In later recollections, the chain was associated with affordable food served in a fast-casual setting and with a broadly family-friendly image. The company’s first major growth area was the Pacific Northwest. It briefly attempted to enter the San Francisco Bay Area, but that expansion did not succeed. By 1994, the chain had 13 restaurants across the Portland and Seattle areas. That year it turned to the public markets, making an initial public offering to obtain funds for additional growth and to support its ongoing operations. The offering occurred despite a financially constrained balance sheet: contemporary figures cited in the historical account described annual operating profits of $789,000 alongside negative retained earnings and negative working capital of $640,000. The IPO initially appeared to provide momentum. The stock opened at $6 per share and briefly climbed to $11, helping the chain expand to a peak of 23 restaurants. However, the underlying operating performance weakened rapidly. Same-store sales fell by 25 percent during the following year, and profits dropped to approximately one-third of their IPO-era level. By the end of September 1995, the stock had fallen to $3.25. The deterioration limited the company's ability to sustain its expansion model and forced a gradual retreat from some markets. In 1997, Macheezmo Mouse closed its remaining Seattle stores. The company also looked for ways to extend the brand beyond its restaurant footprint, including packaged burritos sold through regional Costco stores. These efforts were not enough to restore the business. By 1999, the shares were trading for only pennies. The death of founder William Warren on November 27, 1999 added a major leadership loss to an already weakened company. Warren was killed when the de Havilland Beaver aircraft he was piloting crashed into the Columbia River shortly after takeoff. The business continued operating for several more years but ultimately failed. In May 2003, Macheezmo Mouse closed its final four restaurants and filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy. The bankruptcy reportedly left some employees unpaid, marking the end of the original restaurant chain. The brand was not entirely abandoned after the bankruptcy. In 2010, Diane Hall, described as one of the company’s early directors, attempted to revive Boss Sauce in bottled form. Jeff and Danell Burlingame, who had met while working at Macheezmo Mouse, later purchased the company’s trademarks, recipes, and operating manuals from Hall. In 2013 they publicized a plan to relaunch the chain and used an IndieGoGo campaign as a demonstration of consumer interest for potential investors. The campaign aimed to raise $87,000 but collected less than $5,000. The Burlingames continued pursuing a revival through 2015 and discussed obtaining $250,000 from one or more larger investors for an initial location. No relaunch had taken place by 2022. Macheezmo Mouse also left a small cultural mark in Portland. One Southeast Portland location contained a mural by Gus Van Sant, who was a friend of Warren. Although the mural was thought to have been covered, it was rediscovered in 2013 at a site later associated with Chez Machin and Frog & Snail. The chain’s history illustrates both the early appeal of affordable, ingredient-focused Mexican fast food in the Pacific Northwest and the difficulties faced by a regional restaurant company attempting rapid public-market expansion.
- 2013
Relaunch campaign and Portland mural rediscovery
[1]The Burlingames launched a crowdfunding effort for a potential revival, while a Gus Van Sant mural connected to a former location was rediscovered.
- 2010
Boss Sauce revival attempt begins
[1]Diane Hall attempted to reintroduce the chain's sauce as a bottled product.
- 2003
Final restaurants close and Chapter 7 bankruptcy is filed
[1]The last four restaurants closed and the company entered Chapter 7 bankruptcy.
- 1999
Founder dies and shares reach penny-stock levels
[1]William Warren died in an aircraft crash, while the company’s stock was reportedly trading for pennies.
- 1997
Seattle retrenchment
[1]The company closed its remaining Seattle restaurants while attempting to manage its declining business.
- 1995
Post-IPO operating downturn
[1]Same-store sales dropped sharply, profits contracted, and the stock price declined after the chain's expansion phase.
- 1994
The chain reaches 13 locations and completes an IPO
[1]Macheezmo Mouse operated 13 restaurants in the Portland and Seattle areas and went public to seek funding for expansion and operations.
- 1981
Macheezmo Mouse is founded in Oregon
[1]William "Tiger" Warren founded the chain with Michael Vidor, creating an affordable, quick-service Mexican restaurant concept.
Products and positioning
Affordable, fast-service Mexican food with an emphasis on fresh ingredients and comparatively healthy menu options.
Restaurant meals · 1981
Mexican fast-food meals
The core Macheezmo Mouse offering consisted of quickly prepared Mexican-style meals served in a low-priced restaurant format. The concept emphasized speed, fresh ingredients, and menu choices positioned as healthier than typical fast food. The chain’s later reputation rested less on a single signature dish than on this combination of affordability, convenience, and comparatively health-conscious positioning.
Restaurant meal
Burritos
Burritos were among the Mexican-style foods associated with the chain’s restaurant menu. The format suited Macheezmo Mouse’s fast-service model and also provided a basis for later attempts to sell the brand through packaged food rather than only through company-operated restaurants.
Packaged food
Packaged burritos
During its decline, Macheezmo Mouse expanded into packaged burritos distributed through regional Costco stores. This represented an effort to extend the brand into retail and diversify revenue beyond restaurant locations, but the initiative did not prevent the company’s eventual closure and bankruptcy.
Sauce
Boss Sauce
Boss Sauce was a branded sauce associated with Macheezmo Mouse. After the restaurant chain failed, Diane Hall attempted in 2010 to revive the sauce as a bottled product. The effort formed part of the later attempts to preserve or relaunch elements of the original brand.
Marketing campaigns
- 2013IndieGoGo Macheezmo Mouse relaunch campaign
United States
Jeff and Danell Burlingame used crowdfunding to test demand for a Macheezmo Mouse revival and to demonstrate market interest to potential investors. The campaign sought $87,000 as support for the relaunch effort.
Outcome. The campaign raised less than $5,000 and did not meet its target. The promoters continued seeking larger investors afterward, but no relaunch had occurred by 2022.
Brand decisions
2013
Attempt to relaunch the brandStrategyBackground
Former employees Jeff and Danell Burlingame acquired the brand’s trademarks, recipes, and operating guides and sought to establish a new location.
Action taken
They launched a crowdfunding campaign and pursued larger investors, including a proposed $250,000 funding need for an initial restaurant.
Aftermath
The crowdfunding campaign raised less than $5,000, and no relaunch had occurred by 2022.
Crowdfunding target; proposed initial-location funding. Less than $5,000 raised against an $87,000 target (2013; later funding discussions through 2015)
2003
Close the remaining restaurants and file for Chapter 7OtherBackground
After years of contraction, Macheezmo Mouse was down to four restaurants and could not sustain its operations.
Action taken
The company closed its last four restaurants and filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy.
Aftermath
The original restaurant chain ended, with reports that some employees remained unpaid.
1999
Add packaged burritos through regional retail distributionStrategyBackground
The restaurant chain was seeking ways to extend its brand and revenue base as its restaurant operations weakened.
Action taken
The company offered packaged burritos through regional Costco stores.
Aftermath
The packaged-food effort did not reverse the company’s decline, and the business later entered bankruptcy.
1997
Withdraw from the Seattle marketStrategyBackground
The company faced declining sales and profitability after its rapid expansion.
Action taken
Macheezmo Mouse closed its remaining Seattle restaurants.
Aftermath
The company continued operating elsewhere but remained in decline and ultimately closed its final restaurants in 2003.
1994
Use a public offering to finance expansionStrategyBackground
The chain had reached 13 restaurants in the Portland and Seattle areas but had negative retained earnings and negative working capital despite reporting operating profit.
Action taken
Macheezmo Mouse completed an initial public offering to raise funds for growth and ongoing operations.
Aftermath
The stock initially rose and the chain expanded to a peak of 23 restaurants, but same-store sales and profits subsequently fell, leading to retrenchment.
Annual operating profit; working capital. $789,000 annual operating profit; negative $640,000 working capital (1994)
Recent events
- 2013
Former employees launch crowdfunding campaign for relaunch[1]
Campaign · Product launch
Jeff and Danell Burlingame announced plans to revive the chain after acquiring its trademarks, recipes, and operating guides. Their IndieGoGo campaign sought $87,000 but raised less than $5,000.
- 2013
Macheezmo Mouse mural rediscovered in Portland[1]
Other
A mural attributed to Gus Van Sant inside a former Southeast Portland Macheezmo Mouse restaurant was rediscovered after having been believed to be painted over.
- 2010
Boss Sauce revival attempt[1]
Product launch
Diane Hall, an early director, attempted to revive Macheezmo Mouse's Boss Sauce as a bottled consumer product.
- 2003
Macheezmo Mouse closes final restaurants and files for Chapter 7[1]
Bankruptcy
After continued decline, the company closed its last four restaurants and filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy. Employees were reportedly left unpaid.
- 1999
Founder William Warren dies in plane crash[1]
Leadership change · Other
William "Tiger" Warren died on November 27 when the de Havilland Beaver aircraft he was piloting crashed into the Columbia River shortly after takeoff.
- 1997
Seattle restaurants close[1]
Other
Macheezmo Mouse shut its remaining Seattle locations as part of a broader retrenchment after declining sales and profitability.
- 1995
Post-IPO sales decline undermines expansion[1]
Pricing · Other
Following the offering, same-store sales fell by 25 percent and profits dropped substantially. The company's shares declined to $3.25 by the end of September.
- 1994
Macheezmo Mouse reaches 13 restaurants and goes public[1]
Other
The Oregon-based chain had grown to 13 restaurants in the Portland and Seattle areas and launched an initial public offering intended to fund expansion and continuing operations.
Sources1 sources
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