Chipotle Mexican Grill

"After fierce opposition from potential neighbors, backing out of initial plans to open, and settling a lawsuit over the withdraw, Chipotle Mexican Grill is now open in the Garden District. The New Orleans Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon cutting at 2801 Magazine Street this morning, Friday, July 26. Chipotle first set its sights on the Uptown location two years ago, the first for the chain in Orleans parish. After months of wrangling with neighbors fearful of it’s impact on the neighborhood, Chipotle gained approval at the beginning of 2018 from city planners. A few months later, it backed out of its plans, according to a lawsuit subsequently filed it’s would-be landlord, 2801 Magazine, LLC. The lawsuit alleged that a “good-neighbor” agreement reached to pave way for city council approval had lowered the building’s value. The Tex-Mex chain settled that lawsuit in June, and resumed plans to open in the space, previously a Radio Shack. It joins nearby locations in Metairie and Harahan, but is the first in New Orleans proper. Cheryl Oates, a New Orleans native, will serve as the general manager, a role she previously held at the North Shore restaurants. Chipotle is open daily from 10:45 a.m. to 10 p.m." - Clair Lorell

"After months of wrangling with neighbors and finally receiving approval in January from city planners, beleaguered burrito chain Chipotle is backing out of what would have been the first Chipotle in New Orleans proper, according to a lawsuit filed by its landlord, 2801 Magazine, LLC, this week. "Since we began exploring possibilities for that site, we have made some changes to our priorities and have decided not to move forward with that location," a spokesperson for Chipotle told Eater NOLA today. This is good news for the Irish Channel and Garden District neighbors and activists who staunchly opposed it, arguing that national chains could dilute the cultural potency of the street. Even better news for those neighbors: The landlord might not be able to lease the space to anything like Chipotle in the future. The property owner, Chipotle, the Garden District Association, and the Neighborhood Improvement Association of the Irish Channel, Inc., signed a "good-neighbor" and "restrictive covenant" agreement, which legally prevents any fast food restaurant from occupying the space after Chipotle’s lease ends. So the property owner is suing Chipotle, alleging that the anti-fast-food-restaurant agreement was only signed to benefit Chipotle so that city planners would approve the restaurant, effectively putting activists’ fears to rest that the opening would pave the way for more fast food chains. Presumably he thinks the restriction will prevent him from courting other fast food tenants. The landlord is also suing for the rental income it was expecting over the course of the 10-year lease, plus damages. Chipotle’s lawyer says that the lease was not contingent on them actually operating a restaurant at the address, so it’s completely legal for them to back away." - Stephanie Carter