Popular chain Mexican restaurant planning first Brunswick County location

Jamey Cross, Wilmington StarNews
·1 min read
Chipotle Mexican Grill is eyeing Leland for its next location.
Chipotle Mexican Grill is eyeing Leland for its next location.

A popular chain restaurant is eyeing Leland for its first Brunswick County location.

Plans submitted to the town's technical review committee indicate Chipotle Mexican Grill is eyeing a lot nearby the Lowes Foods in Brunswick Forest for its newest location.

As of September 2023, Chipotle had over 3,300 restaurants in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, France and Germany, according to the company's website. There are 80 Chipotle locations in North Carolina, including two in Wilmington -- near Oleander Drive and in Mayfaire.

Chipotle joins a slew of chain restaurants that have shown interest in or opened locations in Leland, including brunch spot Eggs Up Grill and the recently opened Cook Out.

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Barnes Sutton, director of economic and community development in Leland, said much of the town's restaurant development has been established, chain restaurants building locations in Leland. The young town, he said, doesn't have much second-generation space, and is thus attracting established businesses that can afford the upfront capital costs associated with building a new facility or adjusting a space to meet their needs.

Chipotle's interest in the town is yet another example of that trend.

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Plans submitted to the town of Leland indicate a Chipotle Mexican Grill could be opening in Brunswick Forest.
Plans submitted to the town of Leland indicate a Chipotle Mexican Grill could be opening in Brunswick Forest.

Plans for the project are currently being considered by the town's technical review committee. Submitted plans indicate the chain is considering a location at a 1.13-acre lot next door to the Lowes Foods grocery store in Brunswick Forest.

Preliminary plans indicate the restaurant would have indoor seating and a drive-thru lane for online order pickup.

Jamey Cross covers Brunswick County for the StarNews. Reach her at jbcross@gannett.com or message her on Twitter/X @jameybcross.

This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: Chipotle looks at Leland, NC for newest location