located at 7724 Pineville Matthews Rd., for the first time on
September 18. The new restaurant will be the area's fourth Chipotle
and is located near the intersection of Hwy 51 and Carmel Road.
Featured on Oprah and ABC News' Nightline, Chipotle's Food With
Integrity philosophy includes a commitment to serving higher quality
ingredients that are naturally, sustainably raised or locally
produced. As the nation's first restaurant company to commit to local
and organically grown produce (about 5 million pounds of locally grown
produce has already been served), the new Charlotte Chipotle will
serve jalapeno and green bell peppers from local producers Parker
Farms and Sorantino Produce, when seasonally available. In the U.S.
Chipotle sells more naturally raised meat than any other restaurant
and will purchase 70 million pounds of naturally raised meats this
year alone. And a full 45 percent of the black and pinto beans that
Chipotle uses are organically grown, a percentage that will increase
as Chipotle finds more farmers who grow high quality organic beans.
"We are changing the way the world thinks about and eats fast food,"
said Chipotle Founder, Chairman and co-CEO Steve Ells. "For too long,
great food has really only been available at the best restaurants and
high-end specialty food markets, but we think it's time to end the
notion that great food is only for elite customers. It's a new
perspective on eating in America."
Charlotte's new Chipotle holds true to Ells' food philosophy – simple
ingredients used in creative ways can elevate ordinary into
extraordinary. The restaurant will feature the company's signature
menu items which include burritos, tacos, bowls (a burrito without the
tortilla) and salads. Guests can choose from Chipotle's naturally
raised pork, chicken or beef, or the restaurant's vegetarian option,
which comes with Chipotle's famous black beans and homemade guacamole
made with ripe Haas avocados. Freshly steamed rice with a hint of
cilantro and fresh squeezed lime juice add even more flavor, but to
top it off, guests can further customize their meals by adding any of
the mild, medium or hot salsas, hormone-free sour cream and freshly
grated cheese, and crisp romaine lettuce chopped fresh daily.
Chipotle is the first restaurant to receive Platinum level LEED
certification by the U.S. Green Building Council for its location
inGurnee, Ill. As part of the company's green initiative, the new
Charlotte location features sustainable architecture such as recycled
drywall, low VOC (volatile organic compounds) paints and energy
efficient appliances. Burritos, tacos and salads are also served using
bowls made from recycled newsprint and unbleached tray liners and
napkins, and cups are made from post consumer waste.
About Chipotle
Steve Ells, founder, chairman and co-CEO, started Chipotle with the
idea that food served fast did not have to be a typical fast food
experience. Today, Chipotle continues to offer a focused menu of
burritos, tacos, burrito bowls (a burrito without the tortilla) and
salads made from fresh, high-quality raw ingredients, prepared using
classic cooking methods and served in a distinctive atmosphere.
Through our vision of Food with Integrity, Chipotle is seeking better
food not only from using fresh ingredients, but ingredients that are
sustainably grown and naturally raised with respect for the animals,
the land, and the farmers who produce the food. It's an idea we call
Food with Integrity. Chipotle opened its first new restaurant in 1993
and currently operates more than 1,000 restaurants. For more
information, visit Chipotle.com.
