Chipotle Coming to Burlington

Editor's note: The opening of the new Chipotle in Burlington has been postponed until Tuesday Aug. 23 rather than the 17th as listed in this article. 

You may have already noticed the construction going on in the cove of stores on 90 Mall Road near . Since the second week in June, construction has been underway for a new Chipotle Mexican Grill set to open August 17.

Chipotle was started in Denver in 1993 by Steve Ells, originally a French culinary arts student. After becoming a successful line cook in San Francisco, Ells used his knowledge of French foods and applied it to burritos to create a new branch of quick service Mexican food. Today, Chipotle has over 1,100 restaurants in the US, Canada and UK, with plans to spread to more far-reaching areas like Paris, France.

The Burlington Chipotle is made from all recyclable materials, part of Chipotle's “very aggressive green-building program,” according to Spokeswomen, Katherine Newell Smith.

Smith told Patch about the all fresh, nothing frozen approach that sets Chipotle apart from other chain fast-food restaurants. “We use all naturally raised meats, no by-products, hormones or anti-biotics and practice humane animal husbandry,” explained Smith.

Added to this, Chipotle's produce is also the freshest in the area, Smith claimed.

"We work with local family farmers so vegetables don't have to travel as far and this reduces our carbon footprint and helps support local produce suppliers," she said. 

Smith even mentioned that Chipotle plans to hook up with local Burlington growers at the weekly farmer's market to supply some of the new restaurants' vegetables.

“We spend more as a percentage of income on food than any other restaurant chain in the country,” stated Smith proudly. “It's quick-service food made while you watch, not while you wait, the kind of food you'll be thrilled your kids will want to eat, it's just fresh.”

The 52 seat spot coming to 90 Mall Road this August 17 was landed on because, “it's a very high-traffic area, we hope it will get a lot of business there. We are also in the process of applying for outdoor seating,” said Smith.

Chipotle will also be hiring a number of positions. There are spots open for hourly crew, kitchen managers and service managers. As a special incentive that Chipotle offers it's applicants, for those that struggle with English as their second language, Chipotle affords its employees the chance to take a Language and Culture Program to better assimilate them to not only to working at Chipotle, but to the English language and nuisances of society.

For more information on Chipotle, including how to apply for a job or check out their menu, head over to Chipotle's official website by clicking here.

August 17, 90 Mall Road, the gourmet food you can eat with your hands will be open and ready for business.