Chipotle Coming to Downtown Decatur
Decatur Metro | May 1, 2013 | 3:38 pm
UPDATE: Lyn confirms that the Chipotle will be opened on the Commerce Drive side of the Suntrust building (to the right in the picture below).
After a cryptic comment this morning alluding to national chain, Chipotle Mexican Grill, securing permits to open in downtown Decatur, I checked in with the city to get confirmation. And here it is.
Asst. City Manager Lyn Menne has confirmed to DM that Chipotle is opening in “a portion of the SunTrust Bank building space and will have a patio area to the rear.”
It’s not clear what portion of the bank building Chipotle will be taking over, but I’ll try to get more info and get back to you all.
Photo courtesy of Google Streetview
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God i love Decatur
Nice! Will be great to have something in that long-vacant extra bank space. Do they really have enough parking?
There’s a parking deck right there…
Is there vacant space in that building?
The space on the west side of the building has been vacant for years. It may have been occupied by SunTrust Mortgage people. You enter the building (from either side) via a hallway, with the bank being on the east side and the vacant space being on the opposite side.
Same question. If there is, they’d have to build some kind of entrance for it, unless they want to have the tellers sling hash and cash…
The entrances already exist (one on Ponce near the corner of Commerce and another in the back of the building off the parking lot). There are gates on one side of the hall for the bank and gates on the other side for the other tenant(s).
So it’ll be a Sun Trust/Chipotle combo, sort of like the KFC/Taco Bell locations along the highway. Will there also be a truck wash?
mmmmmm taco bell!!!!!
Car wash, yes. I need an option between our driveway and Cactus Car Wash.
Perhaps to capitalize on the synergy and compete with Taco Bell’s runaway hit Doritos Locos Taco, our Chipotle/SunTrust hybrid will introduce the Sun Chips Coo Coo Burrito.
ohmahgerd, trouble’s brewing.
wifey’s a Willy’s woman; i’m a Chipotle man
this level of convenience is about to tilt the battle in my favor
Gross.
yawn, eat local
actually, my favorite burrito these days is the Pad Thai Burrito at Elmyr in L5P, but, like, that’s a whole 3 miles of auto emissions away, man.
what’re you trying to do, kill the planet?
I believe Elmyr is opening a 2nd location in downtown Kirkwood this summer….
[sucking my thumb, rocking back and forth, staring into the distance]
Seriously? I’m sort of shocked by that news.
Me too, actually, simply from a business perspective. I realize that L5P is very much its own world, but Kirkwood isn’t THAT far, and seems like there would be concerns about cannibalizing its own business.
The word around Kirkwood is that Elmyr got an excellent opportunity to build out a custom space that they couldn’t refuse. And that this location will be more family friendly than L5P (e.g. no smoking). To further distinguish itself from the L5P location, it will take on the name ElMYRiachi (emphasis mine), but many of the same dishes will be offered at both locations. I also heard that an “Elmyriachi” recently applied for a liquor permit for a Kirkwood address—someone spotted a recent posting in the AJC. That’s the gossip around town, anyway….
just left Elmyr in L5P and confirmed they will be opening in Kirkwood, and are presently awaiting the arrival of permits.
that’s all from here, Ken, back to you in the studio . . .
We ran into the owner of El Myr at Inman Park Fest. They are building out the Kirkwood chicken chain buidling. (Mrs. WInners?)
Chipotle does source local ingredients when possible.
“yawn, eat local”
So which local farm grows avacados?
I refrained from asking that same question at Farm Burger, where I was told that avocados are only available “in season.”
I’m guessing dc meant locally owned establishments.
Now even Michael Pollan has said some good things about Chipotle. Does local trump a nationwide push towards more sustainable food practices?
http://blogs.denverpost.com/food/2012/02/22/michael-pollan-dishes-on-chipotle-his-favorite-restaurants-and-beer/
And yes I’m trying to again have the conversation I wanted to have 3 weeks ago HERE.
maybe after you shift background-color for .bypostauthor div up toward #50d050
please
Ha! Where do I put it?
@DecaturMetro please release my replies from hyperlink jail
themes/freshy2/style.css
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I don’t see any replies. Thanks!
it was May 2, not long after yours, 4:57pm?, and I think it was comment # 383201 or 2 or 3
more important, I next replied to J_T under the Beacon Hill post
Too bad, my dear DM, I will try to hijack you as well. Here goes:
Welcome to the neighborhood, Chipotle, and best of luck.
Let me introduce myself. I work for a few local arts related non-profits. I will be calling on you to support the Arts Festival and the Wine Festival and the Book Festival and maybe other things.
I won’t be the only caller and they won’t be the only causes. Your competitors (neighbors) in Decatur buy ads in our event programs and provide cash and/or in kind sponsorships. They put our flyers on their counters and our posters in their windows.
I think these business owners understand that a vibrant downtown leads to more business downtown.
So please expect me to call on you. In the meantime I will mention that Taqueria del Sol is a long time supporter of the Decatur Arts Alliance and Raging Burrito’s generosity–well we’d have to have a conversation to describe. So I go to both these places, as do my friends.
For DM’s readers: the Arts Festival program is available around town. Please thank our beloved sponsors and patronize our dear advertisers.
+1
Thankfully Raging is far better than either!
Yuck. Would love something there, but not a chain. Especially not Chipotle. Yuck.
can’t wait for wendys,applebees and pizza hut to join in
We already have an Applebees in North Dekalb Mall, and a Wendy’s on Scott – sure it’s “Decatur” but close enough.
Pizza Hut?? I can’t think of one near here, but with Sapori/Fellinis/Avellinos that’s OK with me.
Last time I ate at Chipotle there was glass in my salad. No thank you. Also their salsa leaves something to be desired. How can you have tortilla chips and crummy salsa? It’s UN-American!!
I prefer my salsa crummy. Adds good consistency…
And that wasn’t glass, that was just chemically altered croutons. Fancy, right?
y’all just keep up your whining.
shorter line for me.
But longer bowel movement…
Combine Chipotle with the SunTrust ATM drive through for and half the emissons.
Personal emissions excepted.
It would be awesome if Chipotle actually had drive-thrus, particularly for those of us that only order via the app. Alas, these are the things of which dreams are loosely made.
Drive-thru won’t happen for several reasons.
Not the least of which is that the Burrito Bowl would come undone gping through the swoosh tube.
Good one. I almost spit my coffee out imagining that.
That would be called lazy and a product of car culture.
With it one block from my house, I might actually use that app now. Always seemed silly in the past.
The app always makes sense at busy stores (such as Ponce or Emory Village). I also enjoy using it on the road, like when I know I’ll be stopping in BHM or TCL, since I can pre-schedule my order (though it’s a little laughable in the latter example since I’ve walked in there before and it’s obvious I’m the guy picking up the order, since there are no other customers).
+1
(this went downhill fast)
I love how people think their “yucks” and ooooo! a NATIONAL CHAIN OMG! are actually valid criticism rather than just snobbery. Like the people who love to proclaim THEY DON’T OWN A TV but like to critique TV shows.
Yeah, decent affordable fastish food and new jobs in Decatur!
I agree many people are like that. Me? I just think its overpriced rubbish. I also don’t think Raging Burrito is that good either…
+1 I severely dislike Raging Burrito. I’ve given them several chances over the years and just given up. Bad service, so-so food, uncomfortable seating inside…especially the bad service. Plus, the last time we were in there, the table and floor was filthy and the server made no move to clean it. When I asked to have the table cleaned, they said they would be right back. 10 minutes later they brought us water and still didn’t clean the table. When they came to take the order a few minutes after that they still did not clean the table. We left. Chipotle is okay, but I’m much more likely to go to Willys for that style of mex food.
I think they are not after us locals, though they will appreciate our business. Sure — Raging Burrito and Taqueria Del Sol can trump much of Chipotle’s menu. But from a chain point of view, location and visibility is a big deal – and I think they will do quite well.
I have tried ordering online twice for Taco Mac and there is always an error after clicking Submit, and then I just phone the order in and run down there and get it. Frustrating. They claim online ordering really works.
The only online ordering I use consistently is Eat24 with Green Ginger. It actually works reeeally well and is my preferred ordering method. Wish more places used it.
I had a good experience ordering online w/ Jimmy John’s
My dream is to be able to order a McRib online.
And then to have someone put it in a blender and pour it down my throat for me.
My family has good luck ordering Papa John’s online but I don’t touch the stuff.
How appropriate – does someone at The Onion know Decatur (thanks Bob K for the link)? Look at the location …
http://www.theonion.com/articles/applebees-introduces-new-50-appetizers-for-250-spe,32273/
Jinx
Perhaps it is because according to Wikipedia: The Applebee’s chain was started by Bill and T. J. Palmer who opened their first restaurant, T.J. Applebee’s Rx for Edibles & Elixirs, in Decatur, Georgia, on November 19, 1980. (I have been meaning to ask if anyone knew the location.)
Google is your friend. It’s on Memorial Drive and is still an Applebee’s.
The birthplace of Waffle House AND T.J. Applebee’s? Oy… We have a mounting slate of culinary atrocities to atone for.
Waffle House? Culinary atrocity? Surely, you must be kidding?
There are two kinds of people in the world: those who turn up their noses at Waffle House and the rest of us who are just as glad those folks are not adding to the crowd on Sat & Sun mornings.
People go to Waffle House in the morning? Like AFTER they wake up?!? That’s crazy.
I’m not kidding and stop calling me…..
I was waiting for that! I was starting to get disappointed.
I’ve had ridiculously priced “designer” omelets with exotic ingredients and sauces, but absolutely nothing beats a plain Waffle House cheese omelet thinly drizzled with A-1. Perfection. And if you hit the booth at the right time, you’ll overhear some great roadside-diner conversations, too.
You can rest easy, Waffle House was born in Avondale Estates. The pair came up with the idea within the city of AE and then opened slightly outside the then-city lines in what was then unincorporated Dekalb, but that original location was brought back into the AE fold in the College Ave. annexation. You only get blamed for Applebees and, if it was born on Memorial Dr., you can argue City of Decatur is not to blame for that either.
My favorite Decatur-spawned restaurant chain is Huddle House. More obscure than the mega-W, but it has better coffee.
Ruby Tuesday goes, Chipotle arrives. That’s an upgrade where I come from. And according to the Onion, we already have an applebee’s.
http://www.theonion.com/articles/applebees-introduces-new-50-appetizers-for-250-spe,32273/
I know it’s not the same type of food, but I’d like to make a strong recommendation to skip Chipotle and keep going to Victory. Great sandwiches for ridiculously low prices.
LOVED the arepas and Tres Leches at Calle Latina. Everything was good there but those two bowled me over.
Random pet peeve – Restaurants that don’t put their hours on the website! If you want me to eat your, tell me when I can.
Ok, rant over, please return to your normal Thursday activities.
I wholeheartedly concur with Ted on this.
After too many times of going to a restaurant and it being closed (Sunday night!?!?) I decided if they want me to show up, they’ll let me know when its open.
Unless it’s 24 hours – there is no reason not to put hours on a website.
FYI: MOST (not all, obviously — especially if they offer brunch) non-chain restaurants are closed Sundays and Mondays. That is the “restauranteurs weekend.” So I’d never hit a place up for Sunday dinner without calling to verify first.
That said, I totally agree with the frustration over restaurants’ penchant for hiding the most basic of info on their website. Phone number and hours should be the on the main page. Period.
If the restaurant website doesn’t indicate the hours, try Yelp.
I think the point is that you shouldn’t have to look that hard to figure out if you can dine at their establishment and hand over some of your hard earned money.
I love love love Chipolte. This is great news!!!
Maybe they should offer money laundering.
I giggled, nice one…
I’d like to know if there will be a “Keep it INDIE-CATUR” bike rack in front.
Nice!
There are two Chipotles in Berkeley, CA. Everyone can relax now.
And FOUR in Portland! But ZERO in Asheville, so Asheville can suck it!
Who’s AAA now A-Ville!
What Kind of a Monster Bans Chipotle?!
Define “fast casual” – this should be fun.
“I like my restaurants like I like my sex…”
LOL. Decatur doesn’t have a lock on food snobbiness!
i wouldn’t ban it. i just wouldn’t eat there.
So you admit to being a monster?
Beanzilla always carries a Bic
But is it a Bic For Her?
(It’s all about the reviews…)
http://www.amazon.com/BIC-Cristal-1-0mm-Black-MSLP16-Blk/dp/B004F9QBE6
Heavens to Betsy! Eighty. Two. Comments. 82!! On Chipotle!!! Lawd.
In fairness, a lot of them were about Applebees and website/app preferences. It’s all about the odd tangents to get those numbers up.