Chipotle agrees to ‘fast food’ moniker to appease Garden District neighbors

A rendering of the Chipotle proposed for 2801 Magazine Street. (via city of New Orleans)

Developers of the proposed Magazine Street Chipotle restaurant have come to a good neighbor agreement with residents of the Garden District and Irish Channel, which still allows for the chain eatery but hopefully stems a “proliferation of fast food” in the historic district.

The City Planning Commission approved a conditional use permit for Chipotle as a fast food restaurant, rather than a standard restaurant, after opposition from the Garden District and Irish Channel neighborhood associations. Nothing else about the proposal was changed, according to Chipotle’s local land-use attorney Mike Sherman.

“We are pleased to have reached an agreement with the neighbors,” Sherman said in front of the commission Tuesday.

The proposal moves to the City Council for final approval.

Chipotle plans to open its first New Orleans location in the former Radio Shack at 2801 Magazine Street in the Garden District. (Robert Morris, UptownMessenger.com)

Since the Chipotle won’t have the same features as many fast food eateries – such as a drive-thru or large parking lot – city planning staff recommended approval of the conditional use permit. Chipotle won tentative approval for its first New Orleans location in October, though it was classified as a standard restaurant rather than a fast food joint.

Chipotle’s proposed first Orleans Parish location is 2801 Magazine Street, the former RadioShack space in the small strip building anchored by a Starbucks at the corner of Washington Avenue. Because the chain is “not very well known” in the city, design manager Cheryl Heidorn described its history to the City Planning Commission as based in classically trained chef Steve Ells’ idea of serving food based on fresh ingredients quickly.

The Magazine Street location will be unique, she said, with a recessed glass-and-metal storefront to allow an outdoor patio and custom oak furniture. It is designed “to harmoniously fit within the Garden District,” Heidorn said, especially in a building that has been traditionally held national brands.

Shelley Landrieu, of the Garden District, fought against Chipotle’s original standard restaurant status, citing the counter service, self-serve fountain drinks, and trash cans for customers to bus their own tables. Now that Chipotle officials have signed a “good neighbor agreement,” neither the Garden District or Irish Channel associations will oppose the eatery anymore.

“The other units will not apply for fast food either, because we’re not trying to have Magazine become a proliferation of fast food,” Landrieu told the commission.