Whenever I tell my friends and family about my wife’s and my new hometown of Huntsville, I share with them all kinds of great things about this big town (or small city depending on your perspective). However, to let them know how “grounded” I am, I do tell them my top 3 things Huntsville needs to become perfect. I even tell this to potential new hires I am trying to relocate to Huntsville from Michigan, or California, or DC. And #1 on Rich’s list of what Huntsville needs, a Chipotle Mexican Grill.
After taking a friend of mine to the Chipotle in Bham, he referred to it as a glorified Taco Bell. My first reaction was one of offense, of course, but then I thought of the Biblical meaning of “glorified” rather than it’s secular connotation, and I agree that Chipotle may be a glorified Taco Bell. As in, my Lord has in mind for me a glorified body (free of bursitis, tendonitis, dermotitus, and any other -itus this fallen world has in store for me) which is waiting for me in heaven. So in the sense that my current body is a shadow of my glorified body, I might agree that Taco Bell is a shadow of it’s glorified state, something like Chipotle.
My first Chipotle was 4 years and 4 months ago in Chandler, Arizona. Since then, I have eaten at a total of 32 unique Chipotle locations. Not really ever going out of my way to go to a different one, more just being strategic on my travels to stop on in if I’m in the neighborhood. At each location, I have gazed upon the familiar picture of store #1 (except for my recent visit to “Forida Mall” location in Orlando, I didn’t see the store #1 picture, perhaps it was hiding over by the restrooms…). I had the pleasure in February of walking up to a Chipotle in Denver and experiencing deja vu even though I had never been there before, because it was store #1.
So here’s my confession of the locations I have visited (some on many more than a single visit…) in approximate chronological order:
1. Chipotle - Chandler Fashion, Chandler, AZ
2. Chipotle - Herndon, VA
3. Chipotle - Tysons Corner, McLean, VA
4. Chipotle - Reston, VA
5. Chipotle - Sterling, VA
6. Chipotle - Chantilly, VA
7. Chipotle - Wildcat, Highlands Ranch, CO
8. Chipotle - Riverchase, Birmingham, AL
9. Chipotle - Cumberland, Atlanta, GA
10. Chipotle - Little York, Dayton, OH
11. Chipotle - Champaign, IL
12. Chipotle - 96th Street, Indianapolis, IN
13. Chipotle - Toco Hills, Atlanta, GA
14. Chipotle - Matthews, Charlotte, NC
15. Chipotle - Nora, Indianapolis, IN
16. Chipotle - Lansing Mall, MI
17. Chipotle - Chapel Hills, Colorado Springs, CO
18. Chipotle - Lone Tree, CO
19. Chipotle - Mass Ave, Lawrence, KS
20. Chipotle - East Columbia, MO
21. Chipotle - Colorado Mills, Lakewood, CO
22. Chipotle - Orlando Airport, FL
23. Chipotle - Gwinnett, Atlanta, GA
24. Chipotle - South End, Charlotte, NC
25. Chipotle - Cary Kildaire, Raleigh, NC
26. Chipotle - I-70 & Tower, Aurora, CO
27. Chipotle - Evans, Denver, CO
28. Chipotle - E 52nd St, NY, NY
29. Chipotle - Ellisville, MO
30. Chipotle - Lake Mary, Sanford, FL
31. Chipotle - Sandy Springs, Atlanta, GA
32. Chipotle - Florida Mall, Orlando, FL
Jesus: Thank you for taste buds and giving me this enjoyment in your creation.
- Rich
ps. And after we get Chipotle - Blossomwood, Huntsville, AL, we need to work on getting an indoor soccer facility and be annexed into the eastern time zone.
__________________________
Rich Sturmfels
Diesel Does It
save to del.icio.us
share on Facebook
on Technorati
Eastern Time Zone? For the
Eastern Time Zone? For the sake of our friendship I’m going to pretend you did not just utter those ridiculous three words…
Starving and dieing of
Starving and dieing of thirst in the Las Vegas heat, Chipotle saved my life about this time last year. I swore I heard angels harking through the PA system on their patio as we neared their air conditioned dining area (although I now believe it was the Dixie Chicks). We took refuge from Sin City that day for only an hour.
Since then, life has been much more burritoful and I now give Chipotle the benefit of the doubt…except for the time I ate there twice in one day…and they were out of chips…and we went back for a third time the next day. :)
I miss the Chipotle in
I miss the Chipotle in Oceanside, CA. They had free fountain drinks for active duty military, as if I needed more reasons to go there.
p double-u c: Some of us
p double-u c: Some of us aren’t morning birds like you so we prefer the daylight to extend well into the evening. I really don’t care how early it get’s light in the morning if it’s still light at 10pm ; )
EA: I dunno what to say man. Maybe those questionable experiences had something to do with sleeping in a hotel room with 3 other doods… or jet lag from a recent jaunt on a 30 year old aircraft… or walking halfway to your destination just to get your rental car…
Jeff: Free fountain drinks are delicious, that’s great that they honored you guys that way. If sweet tea is your thing then I highly recommend the Sandy Springs, Atlanta, GA location. I was just there 2 weekends ago and I think they made their sweet tea with their Sugar in the Raw. Kinda tasted liked tea with brown sugar.
__________________________Rich Sturmfels
Diesel Does It
I think you know how Rod and
I think you know how Rod and I feel about this particular subject. I’ve gone as far as emailing possible locations to the folks at Chipotle HQ. They actually responded and said they intend to get here…sometime. The guy that called said he’s been to Bridge Street, so it might not be Chipotle - Blossomwood, but a lot closer than B’ham!
BTW, if you’re on Facebook you can join the group I created…Huntsville/Madison Needs Chipotle.
Suddenly I feel like I need to plan a trip to Birmingham….
Chipotle is good. But
Chipotle is good. But Illegal Pete’s is better. It was once only in Boulder, but now it’s all over Colorado, and people are converting left and right…
Just gonna give props to
Just gonna give props to bandito burrito. local. awesome. green bean burrito.
I heart burritos,
Brown
never been to Chipotle. sounds fantastical. peace.
Next time I’m in CO I’ll
Next time I’m in CO I’ll run by an Illegal Pete’s. With Taquito’s on the menu, Linda will probably be up for it too.
Props to Bandito on their price for sure!
__________________________Rich Sturmfels
Diesel Does It
Post new comment