New Chipotle holds Little 500 fund-raiser

Construction is ready to wrap up on Kirkwood Avenue as Chipotle Mexican Grill prepares to open its doors April 27.\nThe Mexican-fare restaurant, which boasts more than 400 locations across the United States, serves made-to-order, 20-ounce gourmet burritos and tacos in its cafeteria-style assembly line. \nCustomers can build their meal from a lineup of ingredients including chicken, steak, barbecue or free-range pork, as well as rice, beans, guacamole and an assortment of other vegetables and salsas. The restaurant also serves chips and salsa, beer and margaritas.\nIn honor of Little 500 week, Chipotle will hold an all-day fund-raiser from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. today. At the special event, customers will pay $5 for a burrito and soft drink. All of the money collected during the day will benefit the IU Student Foundation and the Little 500 race.\nSenior Aref Bajwa, marketing chairman for the Little 500 race, said he is thrilled Chipotle is coming to Bloomington while supporting the community.\n"They're trying to bridge their opening by teaming up with a student organization," Bajwa said.\nSenior Meghna Patel, an IUSF member, said the proceeds will support student scholarships and fund student-run events throughout the year.\n"This is a unique idea for Chipotle to do a fund-raiser for us," Patel said. "It's going to be a fun week. I'm sure everyone will already be out on Kirkwood, and we encourage them to stop in (Chipotle)."\nThe construction of the new Chipotle has created a two-sided buzz of students and community members talking about the opening. Some are upset about another chain restaurant opening on Kirkwood Avenue, as reported by the Indiana Daily Student Sept. 8., while others are excited.\nLocal competitors are in agreement that the restaurant will have a positive impact on the Bloomington community.\nPete Smith, owner of The Laughing Planet, a Kirkwood Avenue restaurant that serves omnivore- and vegan-friendly cuisine, said there's a lot of room for variety in Bloomington.\n"What we do at the Planet is different from Chipotle, and we think we're very good at it," Smith said. "We're more health and vegetable oriented, and of course, we're a local business."\nTony Levato, manager at La Bamba, a Mexican restaurant also on Kirkwood Avenue famous for serving "burritos as big as your head," said although Chipotle serves the same type of Mexican cuisine, he doesn't feel its arrival in Bloomington will impact his business.\n"Chipotle might slow our daytime business down a little bit, but they don't deliver and aren't open late enough to impact us a great deal," Levato said. "A lot of our business comes late at night when the bars are open."\nChipotle has a student following at IU, marked by a 280-plus-member "Chipotle Lovers" fan club on the networking Web site, http//:thefacebook.com.\n"I cant wait for this place to open," said junior Brett Rozanczyk, who lives across the street from the restaurant. "It's been loud and annoying when the construction is going on early in the morning. If it was any other place, I'd be upset. But since it's because of Chipotle, it's worth it."\nChipotle will hold another special event prior to its grand opening. From 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. April 27, the restaurant will feature a "Free Burrito Day," allowing customers to sample burritos, tacos or low-carb "burrito bols," which are burritos with no tortilla, and a soft drink, free of charge.\nChipotle, named after a smoked jalapeno pepper, was founded in 1993 by chief executive officer and professional chef Steve Ells. McDonald's Corp. currently owns 90 percent of the company.\nBeginning April 27, Chipotle will be open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.\n"I plan on being the first one in line and will be eating (Chipotle) for all three meals on Thursday," Rozanczyk said. "I think word of mouth is going to spread really heavily. I haven't talked to one person that hasn't had a great experience there."\n-- Contact Staff Writer Lori Geller at lfgeller@indiana.edu.