NORTHAMPTON, MA — Chipotle Mexican Grill officially opened its first Northampton restaurant on Wednesday, bringing its popular fast-casual dining experience to 301 King Street.
The new location takes over the site of a former Papa Gino’s restaurant, which closed in 2017 and had remained vacant for several years. Rather than demolishing the existing structure, the 3,000-square-foot building was retrofitted to suit Chipotle’s needs.
The property is owned by the Colvest Group, a commercial real estate firm that also owns nearby retail locations including Aldi and Starbucks in the Northampton Crossing Plaza.
As part of its launch, Chipotle is hiring staff to fill remaining positions, noting that each restaurant typically employs around 30 people.
Headquartered in California, Chipotle is widely recognized as a pioneer in the fast-casual restaurant industry. The chain now operates over 3,500 locations across the U.S., including 72 in Massachusetts. The new Northampton store joins another regional location on Russell Street in Hadley, which opened more than a decade ago.
Despite its strong national presence and brand recognition, Chipotle enters a competitive local market. Popular regional chains like Bueno Y Sano, located in downtown Northampton, and Hot Head Burritos on Damon Road offer similar menu options and will likely remain top choices for burrito enthusiasts in the area.
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