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The highly anticipated wait for the opening of Chipotle Mexican Grill uptown will soon come to an end.
With construction currently underway at 1 W. High St., students can expect to order beefy burritos and tacos beginning in mid-to-late October, according to Jessica Simenic, public relations representative for Chipotle Mexican Grills in Ohio.
Simenic did say, however, the projected October grand opening is subject to change.
"You never know with construction how long it's going to take," Simenic said.
Based on Chipotle's opening in Athens at Ohio University in April 2008, which resulted in a line "around the block" from the restaurant, Simenic said the company is hoping for the same "huge turnout" at the Oxford opening.
"College students are a huge fan base for Chipotle and we know students in Oxford are huge fans of Chipotle as well," Simenic said.
Miami University senior Rich Dowd said he's thrilled to finally see one of his favorite places to eat come to Oxford.
"I cannot wait," Dowd said. "I think it'll be the best restaurant uptown, at least for fast food."
Dowd also said the new Chipotle will add to the competition and increase the quality of uptown venues.
"I'm sure the city of Oxford has to be happy about it (Chipotle's opening)," Dowd said. "They don't have the raggedy old Wendy's to worry about. I'm pumped, and I think the rest of the community is too."
A new digital feature to the Chipotle enterprise will also encourage students and Oxford residents to experience the Mexican grill, Simenic said.
In addition to being able to order online, a free iPhone and iPod Touch application was introduced Aug. 25 which allows customers to create their order, place it at their nearest location and pay for the order directly from the device.
Simenic said the day after the Chipotle Apple application was introduced, the application had been downloaded 17,500 times and was the No. 2 lifestyle application on the iTunes store page and No. 56 regardless of category.
"It's nice (for college students) because say you have class and after class you know you're going to be starving, you can put your order in and the time you want it to be picked up, and it'll be ready," Simenic said.
Junior Daniel Mater has an iPhone and said he will definitely be looking into the new Chipotle application once it opens.
"I'd probably only be using (the application) only once or twice a month since Chipotle is right uptown, but it is very, very convenient to be able to order your food straight from your phone," Mater said. "I definitely think Chipotle is going to be getting a lot of business from the iPhone app."
Dowd said he also thinks the Chipotle will have a strong clientele once it opens.
"They definitely have a good following here," he said.
