When last we checked with Chipotle to see if its West Seattle Junction opening date was set yet, the company was aiming for late August. After three people sent notes today asking for an update, we first checked the 4730 California SW storefront – it looks nearly done; the menu’s even up. So we contacted the Chipotle media team, who say it’s opening September 10th. Hours: 11 am to 10 pm daily.
I’ll be celebrating Chipotle’s grand opening with a delicious Chile Relleno platter at Taqueria Guaymas.
I don’t get why people feel they need to hate on any company. If you don’t like it, just don’t go there. I, for one, am looking forward to having a fast food option at The Junction.
Sounds like a plan, DanO. That happened to a local burger joint in my hometown when In n Out opened.
I’m not impressed with the authentic Mexican restaurants in WS. Chipotle is a great addition. Welcome.
I’m with you, DanO. Better to support a small, locally owned restaurant with a long history right across the street.
I struggle with Chipotle and Starbucks as they don’t contribute to the charm of the area. It’s strip mall shovel-ware placed strategically and aggressively to harm Local business … and that makes me sad. South lake Union went all sorts of upscale, how did we end up on the upswing landing Mc-Mediocrity? Panda Express around the corner? Sigh.
@Jennifer: Exactly, which is why I won’t be going there. @smokeycretin9: Perfect response.
I don’t usually like chain restaurants but LOVE Chipotle. So happy to have them in WS!
I usually avoid chains – but the local Mexican joints are all to greasy for my belly. I welcome Chipotle as a (somewhat) healthier option.
Loved eating at the original Chipotle when I was at Denver University in the early 90s. Can’t believe the chain it became!
It’ll take the evening pressure off of Elliott bay. And the people moving into the 80 unit dorm in the parking lot can eat there, it’s pretty perfect!
Boy, it sure is a good thing we don’t have a Jack In The Box, or a Taco Bell, or a KFC, or two McDonald’s, or a Taco Time, or a Papa Johns, or a Pizza Hut, or three Subways, or Dominos, or anything like that in West Seattle already.
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That would be a real shame!
We have a Taco Bell in West Seattle? I only have seen one in White Center.
It’s only “blanding” to those who pre-judge all chains as “bland” and feel that their opinion is more important than others’. To others, the status quo is may be stagnating.
Blanding implies less options, less flavor.
More people and more options means more activity, which helps the community as a whole.
I’m happy for Chipotle, regardless of whether or not I eat there.
All these complaints about chain restaurants in West Seattle crack me up. No one if forced to purchase food from any of them. If they didn’t meet the needs of a segment of customers, they wouldn’t be financially viable and would close. If you don’t like chain restaurants, then just use the power of your purchasing $$$ to patronize those who you prefer. Not sure why some people appear to be upset or offended at their mere existence. Clearly, at least some of your neighbors are making a different choice than you, which is why they stay in business. So what?
Gross food. I’ll support the other three local Mexican restaurants in the Junction, but not Chipotle.
…which is sort of weird, given that there are approximately three gazillion other places in White Center that serve better tacos at comparable prices.
Mongo, I agree with you. If we want to be technical, there are many “chains” in the Junction right now: Matador, Jaks, Pecado Bueno, Cupcake Royale, Bakery Nouveau, Great Harvest, Pagliacci, Elliott Bay Brewery – all have locations elsewhere. If people don’t want to patronize Chipotle or Starbucks or any of these “evil chains,” don’t. I live 2 blocks from here. I love the Junction restaurants and patronize many of them. But you know, sometimes I just want a meal I can get in 5 minutes for less than $10, and Chipotle will hit the spot.
@Kenneth -I agree about the low-end mediocre, fast, casual dining joints in West Seattle – enough already. We need a balance of upscale places to eat. Someplace you’d want to take a date to…
Places I would take a date in West Seattle:
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– Jak’s (if they like steak)
– Mashiko
– Fresh Bistro
– Ephesus
– Phoenecia
– La Rustica
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Funny thing, when more upscale places open, people start criticizing the expense or the weirdness of the menu. Remember when Bang Bar opened? They got no love until they lowered prices and reverted to a more “standard” Thai menu.
To each their own, as far I am concerned the more diversity in WS, the better off we all are.
Love the fallacy that so many in WS have “local” equals “better”.
If that works for you, great. By all means, don’t go to Chipotle. But if others like it, why do you care? Move along…
It blows my mind anyone could dislike Chipotle. It fills an entirely unmet need, with food totally unlike the other Mexican places nearby. Plus, Chipotle almost certainly puts more effort into using local ingredients than “traditional” chains (with traditional food distributors) like Puerto Vallarta.
Don’t get me wrong, I like cheese-drenched Americanized Mexican as much as the next guy, but Chipotle is a whole other kind of food. And it doesn’t matter if you hipsters go there or not, I’ll keep them in business single-handedly.
Opening mid-week on a Thursday of the first week of the kids back to school? Challenge accepted! I’ll be there for lunch or dinner for sure. I’ve been waiting for this day since moving back from Denver in 2000 and there wasn’t a Chiptole anywhere west of Colorado. So psyched.
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We have stopped at the one in Portland on our drive to Salem for years. Stop at the one in Salem before our drive home. I taught my older son to drive by letting him drive to Southcenter a couple times a week for Chipotle. I love the place. Got hooked on it when we lived in Denver in the late 90’s. I’ve even taken my sons on the pilgrimage to store #1 at DU (it is small, very small). The older son and I used to stop by that store every week when I took him to ice skating lessons at DU. It brings back a lot of memories.
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Does this mean that I won’t go to our local Mexican restaurant anymore? No, when I want their style food I’ll head there as I always have. It doesn’t have to be only one.
Just keep in mind, “katsup makes it better”. Food snobs-give me your worst shots. Or best. Makes no difference.
Another nice place to take a date is Duke’s or Salty’s or Circa or Copper Kettle (or has that closed yet?) or Mission.
Chipotle’s used to be a small mom-and-pop store. They grew and even survived having McDonalds buy in as a major investor for years without losing their way. I welcome them to the Junction and plan on being a regular customer.
I won’t avoid Chipolte because it’s a large national brand. I’ll avoid Chipolte because the first (and last) time I tried their food they served me a cold burrito. NO. SECOND. CHANCE.
YEASSSSSS!!! SO stoked that I will NEVER have to go to town to get Chipotle EVER again AND I can EASILY swing by after work WHENEVER I WANT!!! Not only is it vile having to go to the downtown location, they close up at 8 PM! No other location in the area closes so early. That says ALL you need to know about downtown!
I bought a house in west Seattle based on news of chipotle opening here.
Sorry, comment time is over.
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