The fast-growing Mexican restaurant Chipotle is looking to open two new locations in the Jacksonville area.
First, the company is planning to open a new location in Royal Oaks, 9172 Baymeadows Road, according to the Florida Times-Union. The California-based fast-casual chain’s 16th location in Northeast Florida will move into the former home of a gas station, near Hardee’s and 4 Rivers Smokehouse. This follows Chipotle recently opening a new location at 5801 Beach Blvd. at Boulevard Crossing, featuring the brand’s newest concept, the “Chipotlane.”
Next, the company is hoping to open another location in the Atlantic North Shopping Center at 11901 Atlantic Boulevard Unit 106. The potential restaurant is currently being reviewed by the city for interior and exterior work. Early reports from Jacksonville Daily Record suggest this will be a 2,705-square-foot custom double-drive-thru-only restaurant with stacking for 35 cars. This Chipotle is a part of an overall redevelopment that includes a new Chick-fil-A, GNC, Tesla and AutoNation.
Chipotle currently has 220 locations in Florida, with new locations coming across the country. Many of these locations will feature the new Chipotlane concept, which allows customers to have a drive-thru where people can pick up online orders. This year, the company plans to open between 255 to 285 new restaurants, with at least 80 percent including a Chipotlane. Since being introduced in 2021, the company has opened over 500 locations with this concept.
