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Chipotle announces opening date

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By Ryan Gauthier, Staff writer Updated 11:13 AM Thursday, October 29, 2009

The burrito battle is about to begin.

Chipotle Mexican Grill will start slinging guacamole at 11 a.m. Friday, Nov. 6, kicking off the grand opening of the company’s Oxford location.

Jenna Simenic, public relations representative for Chipotle in the Midwest, said the festivities will include free giveaways of Chipotle swag, as well as a drawing for free burritos for an entire year.

The restaurant’s design really sets it apart from a typical Chipotle, as Simenic said most locations are not incorporated into mixed-use buildings.

“It’s really different because a lot of our stores are freestanding or are located within a shopping center,” she said. “So it’s kind of unique to have a space with potential customers living right upstairs. We hope they come down and give us a try.”

The restaurant will employ approximately 30 people, open daily from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Simenic said Chipotle’s philosophy about “food with integrity” truly separates them from the typical fast food restaurant.

“We’re the largest user of naturally-raised meats and all of our dairy products are rBGH free,” Simenic said. “We also try to source at least one of our local produce items from farms in the same region as our restaurants. We’re really big on sustainability and sustainable agriculture.”

She stopped short of commenting on the restaurant’s close proximity to Qdoba — they share a wall — but Simenic said Chipotle welcomes healthy competition in the Oxford market.

As for the menu, expect the chain’s traditional offerings of burritos, burrito bowls (sans tortilla), salads and tacos. The company has been testing a children’s menu in other markets, but Simenic said she has no knowledge of those items making their way to Ohio.

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