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Monrovia Approves Plans for Chipotle Restaurant on Huntington Drive

The city has approved plans for a Chipotle to move in to the old Acapulco location on Huntington Drive.

The Mexican food chain Chipotle plans to open a new restaurant on Huntington Drive and construction is expected to commence early next year, according to the city's development blog.

The Monrovia Planning Commission has approved plans and a conditional use permit for the new restaurant, which will occupy the old Acapulco location in the Huntington Oaks Shopping Center.

"They’re actually going to replace the Acapulco building, tear it down and rebuild it," city spokesman Dan Bell said.

The parent company of the Acapulco chain filed for bankruptcy and closed its restaurants last year. The new building will be about 10,000 square feet and will be built to accommodate three additional restaurants, Bell said.

Chipotle has more than 900 restaurants nationwide, according to the company's website. Chipotle spokesman Chris Arnold said in an email to Patch that his company can't comment on the proposed restaurant.

"As a rule, we don't discuss plans for individual restaurants until we have space under lease and construction scheduled," Arnold wrote. "At this point, we haven't cleared those hurdles yet."

Namaste October 30, 2012 at 11:05 pm
Finally, a healthier, sustainable, more organic, animal friendly alternative for our city. Chipotle is a model of sustainable business that works!!!
Marg October 30, 2012 at 11:30 pm
It sounds like a version of the "food court" at the mall, if three restaurants can fit in.
Monrovia has, family owned Los Gueros, Baja Fresh, Rubios, Taco Bell, Chili's has Mex. in their menu, and a stone's throw away is Qdoba. Why does the city think we need more Mexican food? Why does the city think we need more competition for the restaurants that are already here, esp. the ones on Myrtle who are struggling to survive?
Dan Crandell October 31, 2012 at 12:38 am
@Merg ... Also a good question would be why does Chipotle want to enter an area saturated with Mexican food joints? Several us us commented a few months ago that an In-and Out would work. Maybe even another Jack in the Box. That would give us three.
Marg October 31, 2012 at 01:15 am
The new Jack in the Box looks nice but what that corner needs is for the Rite Aid shopping center to be bulldozed or renovated. It looks completely ghetto over there.
There are so many wonderful places on Myrtle, you would think the city would want to protect them, a little. Have you ever tried Devon? Or Cafe Opera?
Marg October 31, 2012 at 01:32 am
I never heard that but some Animal Fries would be rockin'!
Hey Delilah, If you want to treat yourself, split the coffee rubbed rib eye at Opera. It's fantastic!
Dalilah M. October 31, 2012 at 01:40 am
While Devon and Cafe Opera are enjoyable, they are in a drastically different price category than Chipotle. There really is no comparison there. And Chipotle is yummy! I will be glad to see them here. By the way, whats up with In n Out? We ve been hearing "its coming" since we moved here 10 years ago. I sure wish they would hurry up with that! Its nice to have choices in Monrovia. I like to support our Myrtle restaurants but cant always afford the time or money to go to a sit-down place.
Dalilah M. October 31, 2012 at 01:51 am
Thanks Marg! I ll have to check that out. Sounds yummy! : )
lola October 31, 2012 at 10:11 am
@Merg ... did it ever occur to you that (1) many people LOVE mexican food! (2) not everyone can afford "the ones on Myrtle who are struggling to survive", especially when some of those who don't provide good food nor good value?
Capitalism /competition is what our country is founded on....the consumer chooses and that drives where a corporation spends $$
Tom Adams October 31, 2012 at 07:18 pm
Marg, the City doesn't pick which businesses come to Monrovia so branding is open. The owner of a building that is zoned for food service has a right to decide which brand will operate it's business there.
Tom Adams October 31, 2012 at 07:19 pm
Dalilah, In and Out has decided to not come to Monrovia at this time.
carlos October 31, 2012 at 07:23 pm
In & Out slated for the Home Depot pkg area on Mountain Ave fell-through over a year ago w/ no current plans for a different Monrovia location.
Dalilah M. November 1, 2012 at 12:56 am
Aaaaagghh......Im so sad!!
Robert Parry November 1, 2012 at 03:27 am
Though I'm a devout capitalist and free-marketeer, it pains me to see our town inundated with fast food joints like this. T-Burger and Rudy's have a tough time going against the corporate marketing economies of scale and purchasing power of the Jack-In-The-Box or Chipotle. Banning those places would not be a good thing, but there needs to be a balance. I don't envy the council on these decisions.
Gayle M. Montgomery November 1, 2012 at 03:51 pm
Dan, the Gem City Images Dude is the one responsible for that In N Out thing. He got me big time on April Fools Day, and reading this, I'm going, DARN, it's not In N Out, LOL. I've tried to get into the one on Santa Anita closer to 7:30 or 8 the last couple of days. Long lines. I had to go elsewhere. If the market is oversaturated in Mexican/Latino food, the restaurant won't be sustained. Will be interesting to see how this works out.
As for Marg's comments about the Rite Aid Complex, there is no more Redevelopment Agency, so it's up to the land barons who own the property to decide if they're going to renovate. Unless they fail to meet some sort of code, I don't think the City can do much of anything on that, and the business that claims to have brought us all the business (but got paid for what it did) is suing us, so that's out. I just want to know why all the handicapped spots are being moved further away from the door in lieu of curb pickup. You can still have curbside pick up, but when every step hurts, it seems that the rolls should be switched. BJ's is a classic example of this.
Gayle M. Montgomery November 1, 2012 at 03:53 pm
My dad is one. When he comes off the mountain to go to dinner, he tells me we can go anywhere I want as long as it is Mexican food. His first name's Al, but I have changed it to El. He'll be happy about Chipotle.
Gayle M. Montgomery November 1, 2012 at 03:56 pm
T-Burger is a great place and does a steady stream of traffic. Son loves their carne asada burrito; grandson loves the breakfast burrito, his way--and they accommodate. Breakfast burrito with bacon, add carne asada. T-Burger survived when there was an Acapulco. It's a different strokes for different folks kind of thing. Do you want to do the drive-thru or quicky sit down, or do you want to sit down and be waited upon.
The only problem with Rudy's is the lack of parking in primetime.
Gayle M. Montgomery November 1, 2012 at 04:01 pm
I went online to check out the Chipotle menu and found out there's an app for that http://www.chipotle.com/en-US/order/order.aspx
R Terry November 1, 2012 at 08:48 pm
Qdoba's BBQ sauce makes that a better choice than Chipotle for me.
R Terry November 1, 2012 at 08:49 pm
Yeah, I understand that one of the shop owners close by claimed In n Out would disrupt his business by taking parking from him. He would not negotiate.
Rose November 14, 2012 at 04:47 am
They should of put a TGI Fridays instead.

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genevieve June 19, 2013 at 07:39 am
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genevieve June 19, 2013 at 07:45 am
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genevieve June 19, 2013 at 07:47 am
Why does it seem more acceptable for the Chinese. They have more resources to get their newbornsRead More pictures at the arcadia post office.
rubberband June 12, 2013 at 10:17 pm
See other post about this: It needed to happen...(Ancient Burial Ground that was desecrated) but IRead More maintain we should get some sort of "cleansing" or burn some incense/sage or call for an exorcism. I believe the evil mojo needs to be banished before we build again.........
donna mills June 8, 2013 at 04:40 pm
Hi Therese, I am good friends with Star Shields. He is a busy face painter, and often needs back-upRead More either at the Summer festival in Laguna Beach, now underway, or with one of his other commitments. If you're interested, I would be happy to give you his contact details via email.
Therese B. June 8, 2013 at 11:08 pm
Hi Donna! Star is a good friend of mine too!!! He is more an airbrush artist (and a darn goodRead More one!!) then a face painter. But he is truly a legend in his craft. I have been lucky enough to work with him and learn from him too! I just wish he wasn't so far away :( Nice to hear from you!
donna mills June 11, 2013 at 03:52 pm
Oh wow! what a small world! Best, Donna
rubberband June 7, 2013 at 04:22 pm
Old fashioned country vet "patchin' up" was some of the cool stuff I was taught growingRead More up. Splinting a bird's wing or leg, getting a thorn out of a slightly infected cat or dog paw was part of learning. I am NOT saying to eliminate/not see a REAL vet, however some things can be handled at home with a bit of basic medical knowledge and Bactine/hot clean water and towels/tweezers and some loving hands to hold Fido or Snowball when you can do it yourself. I am already bracing myself for the angry openly hostile messages this post might draw, so it's OK if you feel the need to do so. Watching some of my older friends who have limited income spend THOUSANDS of dollars for a beloved pet out of pressure/and what I call "pusher's guilt" sorta made me feel like mentioning that in the old days, some of the animal care was done by a wise farm woman/man...not all vets are crooks, and not all pet needs need put you in the poor house.
lynn June 7, 2013 at 07:24 pm
I love the old farmers remedies, particularly for mange however when dealing with elderly animalsRead More and certain conditions you just get around it. The farmers remedies are often slow working causing more pain then an animal needs to go through. I try holistic meds quite often for some bacterial infections and they are slow too. Cats in particular are difficult treat. They are great in some situations but in others the it is not appropriate. I will attempt the at home first then the vet. My recent situation was a neglected kitty I rescued with a 1.25 lb cyst I had no idea she had the cyst just thought she was matted. I was trying to get her shaved. Kitty's don't cooperate for though things. One thing led to another she ends up on the operating table. No rescue groups would help me and that's where my anger is directed. I have been donating to different groups monthly for more then 20 years. At one point three different groups at the same time. No one helped me when I needed it. I'm done.
rubberband June 8, 2013 at 11:31 pm
@Lynn: Reading your posts I felt some anger FOR you. HUGE animal lover here, and ALL my pets areRead More rescues/fosters except for the Robo dwarf hamster. Love my cats, and know there just some things you can't do to a kitty without risking kitty AND your own safety. What you have experienced was pretty much the exact thing I saw some older friends go thru...Care about their pets, want to get help, and can't seem to get any or get SOME but with hidden costs and "guilt trips" at the end. If no one said it, thanks for helping critters out and giving when you could. Sorry it was not rewarded.
donna mills June 3, 2013 at 01:20 pm
Gasp! Seriously? OMG--Poltergeist get behind me!!
rubberband June 3, 2013 at 01:48 pm
Donna...Poor Donna. My dear, it is too late. Call that weird yet cute little tiny lady toRead More "clean" your home and get your kids out of the television. ......oh and if you have a pool...DO NOT GO SWIMMING.
Dan Crandell June 3, 2013 at 01:58 pm
Love you Donna. Your comment should have been "Poltergeist get ""thee""Read More behind me"!!!!! All in fun.
Don Ryman May 31, 2013 at 10:07 am
ask andy Montgomery on fb
Robert Parry May 31, 2013 at 01:48 pm
I've recently spoken to Gayle. She's fine, just taking a bit of a mental hygiene breather.
Buzlightyear aka marty June 1, 2013 at 12:11 am
I am glad to hear she is good. I don't do facebook so I will simply take it that she will commentRead More again. She was my first "Patch" debate with someone on the other side of issues......You know, sentimental thing for your first time.... LOL. Just tell her Buzzlightyear "Marty" said hi if either of you two talk to her.