Ubiquitous fast casual Mexican favorite Chipotle has been given the green light to build out a new St. Johns County location at Beachwalk.
Known for its carne asada and grilled chicken burritos, tacos, and bowls, the chain will open a 2,500 square-foot operation along Beachwalk Shore Drive along increasingly bustling County Road 210.
The location will include on-site parking as well as a drive thru option.
Chipotle restaurants — which are still company owns rather than franchised — have enjoyed meteoric growth since founder Steve Ells opened his first small taqueria in Denver in 1993.
He calculated that he could turn a profit if he sold 107 burritos a day — and was soon handing out more than 1,000 of the sumptuous cylinders as demand exploded.
Bolstered by major investment from McDonald’s Chipotle rapidly expanded and the company went public in 2006.
According to the Wall Street Journal, the company announced an ambitious last year to penetrate smaller towns traditionally dominated by the likes of Applebees and fast food chains.
