New Chipotle in the Works at 54/55?

This morning, driving around South Durham in the Southpoint Access mobile bureau, I noticed workers at the old Arby’s restaurant at 2115 NC Hwy. 54 E.

Once I got home, I checked Durham’s zoning maps and found that a building permit was issued in May for renovations – and the name “Chipotle” popped up as a mention for the project.

Now, the California-based chain already has three locations in relatively close proximity in our readership area: Patterson Place (off Durham-Chapel Hill Boulevard), at The Streets at Southpoint shopping mall, and (most recently) near the Harris Teeter at the corner of NC Highway 54 and NC Highway 751.

So, if a new Chipotle is coming, it would be the fifth for the South Durham area.

I checked with the chain’s media relations department.

“We are currently scheduled to open a new location in Durham this winter,” wrote spokesperson Mohit Patel. However, Patel could offer no further details – such as whether this location might include a “Chipotlane” drive-through pickup for mobile orders. None of our other Chipotle locations provide this option, but it seems probable for this spot given that this was an old free-standing fast-food restaurant building with an existing drive-through lane.

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