Fairhaven Soon to Welcome Chipotle as Work Begins on Site

Things should get spicier in Fairhaven sometime in 2023 as Chipotle is planning on opening a new restaurant right next to the McDonald’s on Plaza Way.

Work recently began on the “pad” that will house the restaurant, between McDonald’s and Sullivan Tire. The area is currently fenced off and was in the process of being surveyed on Thursday afternoon.

The application for a special permit was submitted to the Fairhaven Planning Board back on April 25, 2022. On May 13, Bohler Engineering sent a letter to the planning board detailing its plans for construction of the Chipotle.

What Can We Expect From the Fairhaven Chipotle?

According to the letter, the Chipotle will be 2,325 square feet and would include both a pick-up window and an outdoor patio area.

The company also needed a waiver from the board to allow for parking spaces to be constructed only 11.5 feet from Huttleston Avenue, instead of the usual 25-foot landscape buffer, because the building has to be closer to the street due to the location of the electric easement.

The letter states that “the proposed design will allow for sufficient internal circulation and egress of traffic on the site. The site is designed to allow for one-way circulation through the pickup only lane, with a bypass lane provided to allow for egress. The parking area is designed to allow direct entrance and exit onto a two-way drive aisle of the existing parking area.”

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Just with the McDonald’s next door, there will be no direct entrance from Huttleston Ave, instead allowing cars to enter and exit from the side of the building facing Staples, Dollar Tree, Big Lots and Tractor Supply.

When Will Chipotle Open in Fairhaven?

According to Construction Journal, construction is slated to begin in March 2023. It's a safe bet that it will be late spring/early summer when the new Fairhaven Chipotle will open.

Where Else Is There a Chipotle on the SouthCoast?

The Fairhaven Chipotle will join other SouthCoast locations in Wareham, Dartmouth, Fall River and Seekonk.

What's Happening Next Door at the Fairhaven McDonald's?

In addition to the construction of the Chipotle pad, the McDonald’s drive-thru is also being expanded into a two-lane drive-thru similar to other McDonald’s locations.