Chipotle Mexican Grill to open next month in Mundelein

By Russell Lissau

rlissau@dailyherald.com

Chipotle Mexican Grill will open its latest Lake County location in Mundelein next month.

The restaurant is being readied at 520 Townline Road, in the Townline Square shopping center. An Arby's operated in the roughly 3,000-square-foot, free-standing building until last year.

An Aug. 24 opening is planned, Chipotle attorney Robert Anderson told the village board during its meeting Monday night. On Tuesday, a public relations firm working with Chipotle said an Aug. 25 opening is more likely.

"We're very excited," Mayor Steve Lentz said in response.

The Chipotle will have seating for 49 people inside and 20 additional patrons on an outdoor patio, Anderson said.

The restaurant was granted a municipal liquor license to sell beer Monday night. No other alcoholic beverages can be sold there.

Trustees Dawn Abernathy, Ray Semple and Erich Schwenk spoke in support of the restaurant's operation.

“Welcome to the community,” Abernathy said.

Specializing in made-to-order burritos and tacos, Chipotle was founded in 1993 and has more than 2,600 restaurants across the country and in Canada and Europe. In the Chicago suburbs, they can be found in Libertyville, Vernon Hills, Lincolnshire, Wheeling, Arlington Heights, Palatine, Naperville, Wheaton and elsewhere.

The company is based in California and is publicly traded.