Chipotle planning to build Middletown location with a ‘Chipotlane’

Chipotle is planning to build a new restaurant in Middletown.

Pending approval of its final development plan by the Middletown Planning Commission on Wednesday, construction of the new restaurant could begin in June and it could be open for business sometime this fall, according to developer Tom Harb of Byblos Development Ohio, which is based in Orlando, Fla.

The proposed 2,400-square-foot restaurant would be on a separate 0.698-acre parcel on the northeast corner of the Gabe’s store parking lot at Towne Boulevard and Pendleton Circle.

The Planning Commission meets at 6 p.m. at the Middletown City Building.

Last month, the Planning Commission approved the preliminary site plan for the project. On Wednesday, the Planning Commission will consider approval of the final development plan for just north of several other out-lot businesses such GNC, Buffalo Wild Wings, Great Clips and Aspen Dental at the Towne Mall Galleria.

In August 2014, the owners of Towne Mall applied for and received approval to build seven new out-buildings in the area surrounding the mall which is currently being used for parking. The approval also included a minor addition to the rear of the mall to accommodate a larger tenant.

Tenants include Aspen Dental, GNC, Great Clips, and Buffalo Wild Wings. The project was completed in early 2016. The Chipotle would be built north of those businesses.

According to city officials, the proposed Chipotle restaurant will feature a pick-up window. However, city officials said the Chipotle pick-up window will not be a typical drive-through window as food cannot be ordered. Officials said food can only be ordered by a mobile device or online and then the food can only be picked up from the window.

According to Business Insider, Chipotle CEO Brian Niccol told investors during a call Wednesday, Feb. 6, that Chipotle planned to open “a few dozen more” mobile-order pickup lanes, called “Chipotlanes.” The company has already added “Chipotlanes” at 10 of its U.S. locations, according to Business Insider

After placing the order, customers are to pull up to a window at the specified pickup time, allowing them to pick up orders without leaving their car.

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City officials also said that Chipotle was identified as a highly desired restaurant by city residents who participated in the 2017 “What If” Middletown visioning community outreach survey. The “What if Middletown” visioning process was an initial step to publicize the Master Plan and other community planning processes.

Officials said it brought together various groups of the community member and residents to identify problems, identify potential new development types, and build a collaborative approach to improve the quality of life for Middletown residents.

There are two Chipotle locations near Middletown along Interstate 75 — one at the Ohio 63 exit in Monroe and another at the Ohio 73 exit for Franklin/Springboro.

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