Chipotle Set to Open Newest State College Area Location

Chipotle Mexican Grill is ready to open its third Centre County location and first in the area with a drive-thru pickup lane.

The Mexican-American restaurant chain’s store at 1880 S. Atherton St. in College Township will open on Wednesday, March 18, a spokesperson said on Friday.

It replaces Chen’s Mongolian Buffet, which lost its lease and closed in 2025 after more than 10 years in business. It has not, to date, reopened elsewhere.

The new Chipotle will feature the “Chipotlane,” a drive-thru lane for customers to pick up digital orders.

Store hours will be 10:45 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. Each Chipotle restaurant employs about 30 people, and the South Atherton Street location is currently hiring, according to the spokesperson.

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 chain also brought back its Chicken al Pastor for a limited time starting in February.

College students will get 1,000 bonus points upon enrolling in the new Chipotle U Rewards and 20% more points on every purchase to earn free food. Chipotle also offer in-app and in-store community fundraisers.

The South Atherton Street location joins Chipotle’s Centre Region restaurants at 116 Hiester Street in downtown State College and 1850 N. Atherton St. in Patton Township.

It’s one of two new Chipotle locations in the works in Centre County. A Chipotle, including a drive-thru lane, at 2673 Benner Pike in the Paradise Shopping Center near Bellefonte, will open sometime this summer, the spokesperson recently told StateCollege.com.