Chipotle Opens in Glover Park

Lines were long for those craving a burrito on the Glover Park end of Wisconsin Ave. today.

Chipotle unraveled its "Grand Opening" banner outside its newest storefront, located at 2338 Wisconsin Ave. NW, drawing in many hungry patrons within the first hour after it unlocked its doors at 11 a.m.

The company made sure to put their best foot forward as they enter their ninth District location. A marketing representative for Chipotle held open the door for customers with a menu and a "Hi! Come on in!"-style greeting while upper-tier managers from elsewhere in the U.S. stood ready to assist customers or employees on their first day.

"The interior of the restaurant has a different feel," said one self-proclaimed Chipotle fan named Terrence while wrapping up the remains of his burrito he couldn't finish.

"The lighting is really cool," he said, referring to the energy-saving LED lights that hang along the length of the ceiling "And with more wood it looks less modern and metallic than most Chipotles I've been in."

Chipotle's regional manager for the DC and Maryland area, among the managers present for the opening, said this "different feel" is intentional.

By acquiring stores with less square footages, he said, the company is embracing more of an "urban mix." This means less stand-alone restaurants and more storefronts tucked along streets with neighboring businesses. Such is this new addition in Glover Park, it sits across the street from the Whole Foods and next door to Bruegger's Bagels.

Four ninth-graders from the British School of Washington took their place in line that by 12:30 nearly touched the back wall. After two failed attempts of walking to the not-yet-opened Chipotle earlier this month during their lunch break, showing up for opening day was very intentional.

When asked what they were ordering, all four agreed in unison: "Burritos."