Chipotle is ready to open its first Bellefonte area location and fourth in Centre County.
The Mexican-American restaurant chain’s store at 2673 Benner Pike in Benner Township will open on Tuesday, May 12, a company spokesperson said on Thursday.
Located in the Paradise Shopping Center with Giant and McDonald’s, the restaurant will be open from 10:45 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.
Like the recently opened location on South Atherton Street in State College, Centre County’s newest Chipotle has a “Chipotlane” drive-thru lane for customers to pick up digital orders, though it is not currently listed on the store’s web page as a pickup option.
Each Chipotle restaurant employs about 30 people, and the Benner Pike location is currently hiring.
Known for its burritos, bowls and salads, Chipotle recently introduced a new curated menu of high-protein items. It features items ranging from 15 to 81 grams of protein each, such as entrees like the Double High Protein Bowl and High Protein-High Fiber Bowl, and snacks like the High Protein Cup and a single chicken taco.
The new store will also feature the limited-time Chipotle Honey Chicken, and the newest Cilantro Lime Sauce.
Customers can enroll in the revamped Chipotle Rewards program to earn free monthly food drops, customizable birthday rewards and more. New enrollees receive free chips and guacamole with a purchase.
Chipotle also offer in-app and in-store community fundraisers.
The Bellefonte location and the South Atherton Street store, which opened in March, join two other Chipotles in Centre County: 116 Hiester Street in downtown State College and 1850 N. Atherton St. in Patton Township.
It’s the latest business to open in recent months along the booming Benner Pike corridor, joining the Avid Hotel and Candlewood Suites that opened in the fall at 132 Amberleigh Lane, Tru by Hilton hotel, which opened in March at 143 Leahey Drive and the Amazon delivery warehouse that opened in February on Industrial Drive in the Benner Commerce Park.
Centre County’s first Wawa is currently under construction at the intersection of Benner Pike and Eagle Point. Across from the Paradise Shopping Center, Stuckey Automotive plans to build a new dealership on a recently cleared lot, which in the future is also expected to include a second-phase development with two fast food restaurant buildings and two retail buildings. A new car wash is also planned for the corner of Benner Pike and Amberleigh Lane, in front of Avid/Candlewood.
