http://www.chipotle.com/

(On their homepage, click on "Development.")

OKC, Tulsa and a few other cities are on the map for expansion. Also, a friend of mine who is in the know, has told me that Chipotle is scouting out prospective sites here in the metro.

Oh... and on the same page, they take site recommendations from visitors... so if you think you know of a good spot for one, click on "speak."

Yep, it's already been discussed. Check out the thread in I believe the "OKC Metro Area Talk" section.

I figured since Qdoba and Moes have came to the OKC market, why not see if Chipotle has interest here.. And infact they do.. I emailed them and this is what they responded with,

"Greg,

I know that we have started to look at opening in Oklahoma City so it is only a matter of time now, friend. Please hang in there a little longer!

Sincerely,
Dawn Dillon
Mojo Mama
Chipotle"

Yes, this was already announced in the Food Court. But great news, nonetheless. I recommended the put a shop in the CBD as well as the Plaza Court building in MidTown.

Plaza Court would be great! Belle Isle near Pei Wei and Moe's would be a good fit too.

Plaza Court would be great! Belle Isle near Pei Wei and Moe's would be a good fit too.

Yeah Moe's and Chipotle in the same parking lot.. Great idea.. :)

Plaza Court would be great! Belle Isle near Pei Wei and Moe's would be a good fit too.

-Sure, then let's round out Plaza Court with an Applebee's and a radio shack and we'll be on our way to the ****ification of Midtown, too.

Sorry to be so reactionary, but I don't understand why a chain restaurant is a good idea for the Plaza Court. I agree with a restaurant being a good idea, but It would be nice to see us get some local flavor in there... something distinctive and a little different, and also a pub of the same nature - to get some people on the ground and start realizing the unique potential of Midtown.

MidTown will be unique, and already is frankly! If you remember correctly, a Mexican establishment was announced for Plaza Court about a year or so ago and did some significant construction and almost opened. Not sure what happened. I don't agree with putting a lot of chains in there, Subway is already in there and US Cellular and Starbucks are rumored to be going in there. I say no more than 3 chains and the rest should be local. The chains help anchor the complex so that it can be successful for locals.

I got this email from them today.


Thank you for writing us, and we will get to OKC someday, I am sure. Hang in there friend, and we hope to see you eventually!

Sincerely,

Joe Stupp
Manager, Duct Tape and Plungers
Chipotle

I got this email today from them.


Thank you for writing us, and we will get to OKC someday, I am sure. Hang in there friend, and we hope to see you eventually!

Sincerely,

Joe Stupp
Manager, Duct Tape and Plungers
Chipotle

I tried Chipotle in Washington D.C. last week and i thought it was pretty good. It was right in Georgetown and I thought the food was pretty good.

FYI, I emailed Chipotle last week and got this response back today. Looks like they're finally coming to OKC area!


Steven,

Thank you for your suggestion. We have plans to open in Edmond so I'm sure we'll get to Oklahoma City too someday. Hang in there!

Sincerely,
Dawn Dillon
Mojo Mama
Chipotle

I agree... Plaza Court should stay local... although a Starbucks would be nice, but maybe at the corner of 13 & Broadway. There is a lovely little spot there that needs something. I have heard Midtown is going to stay as local as possible. Go Banta!

Okay, but what does that have to do with the announcement of Chipotle entering the market in Edmond?

I would like to see one in Norman as well.

MWC - stick it on 29th instead of another steak joint!

I don't really understand why it has taken them so long to get into this market. Or anywhere in OK for that matter. They are all over the place in Kansas, Texas, Arkansas, Missouri...

I'll echo my bewilderment on Oklahoma having no Chipotle locations.

The Dallas-Fort Worth area has 31 locations. Houston has umpteen of them. San Antonio and Austin have around 20 amongst themselves. The Denver-Colorado Springs region has 50 locations.

It's not like Chipotle is any kind of exclusive, shi shi, four star restaurant chain that just happens to sell big, custom made burritos. So I don't see why cities like Oklahoma City and Tulsa have been overlooked by this chain for so long. Same goes for Little Rock and especially Albuquerque. There's no Chipotle locations in Arkansas or New Mexico either.

What I find pretty odd is how Chipotle apparently has a couple business development offices in Oklahoma City and Tulsa. Just no actual stores.

I think Chipotle would go over pretty well in at least several Oklahoma cities and towns. OKC could support several of the restaurants on its own. Cities like Norman, Edmond, Moore and Yukon could each use at least 1 of the restaurants. Even places like Stillwater, Lawton and Ardmore could probably provide a lot of success for the chain.

Chipotle would explode in Norman, probably wouldn't be AS popular in Moore but would definitely get business. It seems like it'd be a great downtown spot as well for all those business lunch peeps. I was at the court house downtown one day waiting on my mom and walked over to a deli (Jasons Deli?) and it was completely full with people waiting outside as well at lunch time. I bet Chipotle would have the same response.

There isn't a Jason's Deli downtown. Right by the courthouse is an urban Subway and Harvey St. Grill. Nearby in Leadership Square is City Bites and Ground Floor Cafe.

Well this was a long time ago, at least over 5 years ago. I know it was a sandwich place for sure and it was prettyy big and near the memorial. I know it wasnt either of the ones you listed.

i'm pretty sure you're thinking of markie's deli. -M

If Markie's is north across the street from the memorial then I think you are right.

I'll echo my bewilderment on Oklahoma having no Chipotle locations.

The Dallas-Fort Worth area has 31 locations. Houston has umpteen of them. San Antonio and Austin have around 20 amongst themselves. The Denver-Colorado Springs region has 50 locations.

It's not like Chipotle is any kind of exclusive, shi shi, four star restaurant chain that just happens to sell big, custom made burritos. So I don't see why cities like Oklahoma City and Tulsa have been overlooked by this chain for so long. Same goes for Little Rock and especially Albuquerque. There's no Chipotle locations in Arkansas or New Mexico either.

What I find pretty odd is how Chipotle apparently has a couple business development offices in Oklahoma City and Tulsa. Just no actual stores.

I think Chipotle would go over pretty well in at least several Oklahoma cities and towns. OKC could support several of the restaurants on its own. Cities like Norman, Edmond, Moore and Yukon could each use at least 1 of the restaurants. Even places like Stillwater, Lawton and Ardmore could probably provide a lot of success for the chain.

I can understand going to Texas and Denver first, but Wichita and Topeka get several locations before they even touch OKC or Tulsa????

The reason for 50 in the Denver area is that it was founded in Denver.

I'm surprised they haven't come sooner, especially after seeing that Moe's and Qdoba have already set up shop.

And Chipotle is SOOOO much better.

I recently received this response from Chipotle after I e-mailed them about expanding into OKC and/or Tulsa:


If all goes to plan, we hope to get started out there in Tulsa very late this year and OKC soon after. Hang in there!

Sincerely,

David Chrisman
Mo'Joe
Chipotle

Sounds like no Chipotle in OKC until at least a year or so from now.

yeah or you could scroll up and see my email from them a few months ago. Looks like in there eyes, Edmond is not the same as OKC:

Thank you for your suggestion. We have plans to open in Edmond so I'm sure we'll get to Oklahoma City too someday. Hang in there!

Sincerely,
Dawn Dillon
Mojo Mama
Chipotle

I don't really understand why it has taken them so long to get into this market. Or anywhere in OK for that matter. They are all over the place in Kansas, Texas, Arkansas, Missouri...

that is an interesting point, why does it take retailiers so long to locate to OKC, yet OKC was voted the "fast food capital of america."? You'd think given that distinction, there would be In N Out burger, Jack-in-the-box, Chipotle, Whitecastle, every fast food place would be here.

I think that fast food capital crap was heavily misleading. true OKC could be the fast food capital but to say that the city has more fast food than others is ludacrist.

that said, I am glad OKC does have lots of food choices. I hope the upscale and healthy choices continue to improve also.

I wish we could get some of those places- especially White Castle. In-N-Out won't ever locate here due to supply chain issues.

yeah or you could scroll up and see my email from them a few months ago.

Yeah, I saw that, but--silly me--I went ahead and posted anyway, since it was new information and all.

My mistake.

I agree with others. If Chipolte just hangs out and neglects this market they will end up losing it to competitors and we will not have any obligation at all to give Chipolte the time of day for making us wait.

If they do not think Oklahoma is important, likewise we will not think they are important either. It goes both ways and they had better realize that already.

I do like Chipolte's food, but so long as they refuse to acknowledge Oklahoma cities as a worthwhile market I will NOT be made to have any loyalty at all for their brand. They are nothing as far as I'm concerned so long as they keep wrongfully overlooking this market. If chains like Qdoba and others get more aggressive at taking advantage of the wide open Oklahoma market, my business will go with them since they insulted Oklahoma less.

That's really what it comes down to with these businesses who tease and taunt people in Oklahoma. They think they can encourage any kind of brand loyalty without putting up a "shingle" in this state. Well they need to think again. Chipolte is running on borrowed time as far as Oklahoma is concerned. If they do not overcome their flagrant ignorance and obvious prejudice against Oklahoma and start building some restaurants here, then I will not be a customer of theirs ever again in places where they do have stores (like in Texas and Colorado). They will lose my business. Period.

Even if they wait around and then start building after other chains build up similar concept stores in a number of Oklahoma cities, I will penalize them by not visiting their businesses because they chose to give the middle finger to Oklahoma. They get NO business from me by insulting my own home market. That is only how it will go. No negotiation. That is just how it is.

So, if anyone from Chipolte's management happens to see this post, they had better realize they need to get off the freaking pot and stop neglecting Oklahoma (and Arkansas and New Mexico) already and build some stores in those areas. Denver does not need 199,858,339 locations of Chipolte. It is already retarded for that city to have 50 or more locations at this point. Even if Chipolte was founded there. Oklahoma is worth at least a few locations. If Chipolte can't overcome their obvious snobbish attitude against Oklahoma then they will do without my business from here on out.

I am the customer and I am always right! Yarrrrgh!!!!!

Yeah, I saw that, but--silly me--I went ahead and posted anyway, since it was new information and all.

My mistake.

Don't worry. And definitely post new information, I just wanted to clarify to others who may not have read since you made it seem like they weren't coming to the OKC market, just Tulsa, when they've already officially announced an Edmond location.

Locating the first metro outpost in Edmond doesn't seem to be too much of a departure from the Chipotle playbook - at least that much that I've seen. They're just now moving into the St. Louis market -- the third of the big burrito chains to do so (or fourth if you consider the addition of Red Burrito to existing Hardee's locations). Their first St. Louis metro location was in the far western section of St. Charles county (nearly 40 miles from downtown St. Louis and a good 20 from the metro population center point). In my estimation they move into a metro area's most rapidly expanding area (which St. Charles County clearly is) and then grow from there. I suppose they work on the theory that the folks moving into the booming areas are right in the heart of their target market -- boomers and post boomers with families and disposable income -- and thus they take the smallest risk while buying time to assess other sensible locations in the area. In any event, Chipotle is more than holding their own despite giving Moe's and Qdoba a year and a half head start. They are expanding left and right, opening a new shop just about every six weeks since the beginning of the year.

Assuming the Edmond location is a success, I would fully expect them to make their way into the City soon thereafter, probably working their way down from the northwest.

There is one of these in Wichita, the city I am currently in on a business trip. I may eat there while I am here.

There is one of these in Wichita, the city I am currently in on a business trip. I may eat there while I am here.

Try a margarita if you're into that whole 1 part margarita mix, 4 parts tequila.

I saw in The Oklahoman yesterday that Chipotle is coming to Edmond in early 2008.

Yep Chipotle is on its way to Edmond.

For those who stated Oklahoma fast food capital this is true (actually Enid has more fast food restaurants per capita than any other city in the nation). Does it not make since we are considered one of the poorest States in the nation, so why would retailers and restaurants want to locate here if they hold a certain image. Sure its fast food but even Chipotle builds in high profile cities. If you look at all their location in Dallas most housing around them is above $100,000.

I am glad to see them coming to Oklahoma.

It seems like Oklahoma sometimes gets ignored by chains it shouldn't be ignored by. Higher end grocery chains refuse to locate in Oklahoma because of the liquor laws, but there is no reason other food and retail chains should wait so long to enter Oklahoma or stay out alltogether. Even Tulsa gets stuff before OKC usually. Why no Ben and Jerry's? Dave and Busters? Another place I really enjoy is Cafe Express.

I've always wondered if maybe its because OKC looks like a VERY low-dense city on paper because of all the rural areas within the city limit. Would it help if OKC de-annexed some of its rural territories (SE OKC east of Stanley Draper in particular)?

Chipotle will be on the SW corner of 15th/Broadway, just south of the Starbucks in a building w/AT&T, according to the sign on the lot... didn't see an opening date on it, but it's moving quickly...

Open yet?! We ate there like 3 times on our Dallas trip a couple of weeks ago. Amazing guacamole but margaritas are too strong. I can't wait for this to open. I live in Moore and will so be driving to Edmond just for the food.

I would like to see one in Norman as well.
Chipotle would explode in Norman.There was an Atomic Burrito in Norman a couple years ago that was very similar to Chipotle. It had great food and did good business, but it was taken over by a larger chain that closed it. I believe it is a McAlister’s Deli now.

No CM, they are not open yet, they are still doing exterior work on the building, they should be starting on the interior very shortly, I'm guessing probably a February opening from the looks of it a few days ago.

i saw the sign in edmond for chipotle, I am sooooooo excited! we had 1 right by our house in dfw and I LOVE those burritos and chips. so unlike anything here (well, similar to the old atomic burrito in norman)

When I talked to the guys runnin the store they said it would be open in January, but things could have changed. I drove by there last night, looks like many of the overhead lights are up and interior work has started. I can't wait.

There's a Chipotle right up the street from my house here in Keller, TX. Ate there last night. love it.

Opens today!!!! mmmmmmmmmm.

Freebirds is coming to Norman, it's better than Chipotle.

I've never heard of Freebirds. Is it worth the drive from Edmond to Norman??

Well, I hate being in a car and hate driving even more, so I certainly wouldn't drive that far for a burrito. A killer steak or some damn good BBQ, yes, but a burrito? No. But then again I also will stare at my empty fridge for a month and eat crackers every day before I'll drive to a grocery store so I may not be the best one to ask :)

Well I'll tell you this, I'll drive to Edmond from downtown just to eat Chipotle!

Well, I hate being in a car and hate driving even more, so I certainly wouldn't drive that far for a burrito. A killer steak or some damn good BBQ, yes, but a burrito? No. But then again I also will stare at my empty fridge for a month and eat crackers every day before I'll drive to a grocery store so I may not be the best one to ask :)

Freebirds is about the closest thing you can get to an edible orgasm. Its that good. I had some while visiting friends in San Marcos and words cannot describe the delectable goodness that is Freebirds.

Yes it is definitely worth the drive.

An edible orgasm eh?

I would drive for that.

Chipotle is no different than Qdoba. Eat at both and you can count the differences on one hand.

shredded beef.

Chipotle grew so fast because McDonald's had controlling interest in the chain for 7 years. For several of those years McDonald's owned over 90% of the company. For better or worse (some say worse) they no longer own a single share. The founder-CEO from Denver would have never been able to expand so fast had it not been for McDonald's. McDonald's also recently sold their Boston Market chain; I would love to see those in OKC as its one of the few fast-food places with healthy food on the run.

Wichita had a Boston Barfet for a while, but it went out several years ago.

As you can see, I'm not a fan.

Boston Market, healthy? Not sure about healthy but its more slow cooked comfort food. Have you seen how many carbs, calories and sodium are in Boston Markets food?

Well, I have to say, I'm a big Chipotle fan. Freebirds is also good. I used to live in Houston and ate at both, but I have to say, I personally prefer Chipotle. I don't like Qdoba if for nothing else but the design. Compare the design of Chipotle (http://www.chipotle.com) to Qdoba (http://www.qdoba.com) and there's your difference. I'm talking design of the facilities and the brand in general. Qdoba is wholly owned by Jack in the Box, in case you didn't know. Not that there's anything wrong with that, I just think it's interesting to know.

Anyway, my thoughts on Chipotle can be found on my blog here:

Chipotle Mexican Grill: a guide for Oklahoma City (http://www.eataroundokc.com/2008/chipotle-mexican-grill-a-guide-for-oklahoma-city/)

It officially opens tomorrow, so check it out and leave your comments on your favorite things to eat there.

Coming from Denver, I've had lots of Chipotle and Qdoba as well.

Personally, I prefer Qdoba, but then there's nothing wrong with Chipotle.

Qdoba has a larger menu, many more choices and even a kids menu.

Even so, I'm glad to see Chipotle is now here in Oklahoma too.