Chipotle to Open London Location

Chipotle to Open London Location
November 19, 2009

Denver-based Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc. has secured its first London location and is finalizing design and building plans. The restaurant, located at 114-116 Charing Cross Rd., will be Chipotle’s first location in Europe and is slated to open in April 2010. The landlord for Chipotle’s first London restaurant is London-based Estates & Agency Holdings Ltd. The majority of Chipotle’s growth through 2010 will be in the United States, although the company continues to look for additional sites in London. Beyond its interest in the U.K., Chipotle has also started to look for locations in Paris and Munich, but has not identified specific sites or released timelines for expansion into these markets. “We are very encouraged by the prospects for Chipotle in the U.K.,” said Steve Ells, founder, chairman and co-CEO of Chipotle. "In many ways, the food culture in Europe matches our priorities much more closely than in the United States." In the U.S., all of Chipotle’s 900-plus restaurants offer a limited menu consisting of burritos, burrito bowls, tacos and salads, made with ingredients from sustainable sources.