POTTSTOWN PA – Nearly two years after plans were announced for its construction, a new Chipotle Mexican Grille restaurant is preparing to open next week for business in the borough.
Signage reported the restaurant will welcome customers Dec. 22 (2023; Friday) at 10:45 a.m. at its location in the retail plaza created between the intersections of Shoemaker Road at Route 100 and Robinson Street.
Employees were seen working in and outside the restaurant space Friday (Dec. 15, 2023) Representatives at the property said they were getting the restaurant “set up” for customers. Signs on its glass doors and drive-through windows asked patrons to “Forgive Us” for delays as final preparations were under way. They also disclosed the opening date and time.
Besides the drive-through, the restaurant contains more than 2,200 square feet of interior space for dining and meal preparation, according to a WFMZ-TV report. It also includes a patio with outdoor seating.
The plaza, developed by Pottstown Equities LLC at 200 Shoemaker Rd., provides additional store fronts for other retail and service operations. It is located on the former site of a Friendly’s Restaurant that served Pottstown area diners for decades. The Friendly’s chain declared bankruptcy in 2020, and was later bought by new owners. The local franchise closed in 2022.
The intersections at Shoemaker and Route 100, and Shoemaker and Robinson, both routinely bear heavy traffic loads. The borough plans to address traffic control needs with previously announced plans to build a future traffic circle at Shoemaker and Robinson. The developers have contributed $50,000 towards that effort, The Pottstown Mercury newspaper reported.
Chipotle’s opening date closely follows that of one of its next-door neighbors, the new Panera Bread restaurant location in Pottstown at 204 Shoemaker Rd. Panera opened for business Dec. 2 (Saturday).
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