A new Chipotle location opened last week in Mount Laurel NJ, on Route 38 in the Larchmont Commons.
The building was previously a Burger King… The Chipotle team did a great job remodeling it to the signature Chipotle design.
Located at 3109 Route 38, the crescent-shaped Larchmont Commons shopping center features a variety of businesses including Aldi, Planet Fitness, Dollar Tree and Primo hoagies within the main strip mall center.
Chipotle is in a freestanding building in the front center of the parking lot.
Recently an all new construction building was added to the parking lot area along side of the new Chipotle, with Starbucks opening last year on the left side and Tropical Smoothies is on the right side.
42Freeway first bought news of the upcoming new Chipotle back in October when the building was 100% identifiable as a classic Burger King restaurant. Today there are really no visual cues left of it’s former burger and fry life… except maybe the line of dining room windows?
This new Chipotle also features a Chipotlane digital pickup lane.
If you’re unfamiliar, the Chipotlane is similar to a traditional drive-thru except there is no menu board/speaker to place orders… Customers must order from the Chipotle phone app or website, and the Chipotlane is available for fast pick up of orders without leaving your car.
As mentioned the interior is fully redesigned as the boxy yet stylish signature Chipotle design.
As you would expect, inside the new restaurant it’s a full “down to the studs” remodel with an all new kitchen and dining area.
Chipotle is adding new locations at a feverish pace, both by building new units (Bellmawr, Glassboro, Blackwood, soon Barrington) but also retrofitting existing buildings (Brooklawn).
A recently opened Chipotle in Brooklawn for example was originally a classic Taco Bell which has a very small footprint… and that Chipotle location may have seating only for four dining guests!
For the new Mount Laurel location on the other hand. the base footprint of the original Burger King was a full-sized fast food restaurant, with the Chipotle remodel taking advantage of that extra space making what is likely one of the areas larger new locations.
The dining area offers a large number of traditional two person tables and chairs, as well as multiple segments of their community style high-top seating of eight (4 on a side), which is commonly seen in most Chipotles.
The new design for the Chipotle does a great job to reuse the existing windows from Burger King so that inside the space is bright and opens up to the outside.
If you were unfamiliar with Chipotle they are a international chain of fast casual restaurants specializing in a simple Tex-Mex menu featuring bowls, tacos and burritos which are made to order in front of the customers.
Customers move down the front counter telling employees at each station what they want.. and how they want.. their meal. It’s a food assembly line, where customers see it all come together in front of them.+
The company continues on full “pedal to the metal” growth mode to add as many stores as possible, including South Jersey. As mentioned another location is under development in Barrington.
Shareholders are appreciating their efforts as the stock is up 50% in the last 12 months and it’s getting so high they will be doing a 50 to 1 stock split! (May 21,2024)
Links and Location
Chipotle – Larchmont Commons
3109 Route 38
Mount Laurel