Chipotle opens new Merced location with special drive-thru lane for digital orders

The City of Merced’s first Chipotle Mexican Grill location with a drive-thru opened its doors to the public on Tuesday.

The restaurant, located at 3120 Campus Parkway, offers what the company refers to as a “Chipotlane” drive-thru. According to Chipotle spokesperson Annie Gradinger, the “Chipotlane” differs from typical drive-thru lanes you might find at other restaurants.

As opposed to conventional drive-thru lanes, the “Chipotlane” allows guests to pick up digital orders that were placed through the Chipotle app or through the Chipotle.com website. After placing an order, the customer receives a notification with the time the order will be ready. When that order is ready, the customer can use the location’s drive-thru lane to claim their digital order from the pick-up window, all without having to get out of a vehicle.

The location is open daily from 10:45 a.m. to 10 p.m..

According to the company, the “Chipotlanes” have helped to expand access to unique consumers and on average, customers are able to complete the process of picking up their orders in less than 30 seconds. Pickup orders, including those made through the “Chipotlanes” account for the company’s highest margin transaction.

Currently, Chipotle operates more than 3,400 restaurants globally and more than 800 of those locations feature the company’s “Chipotlane” drive-thru.

The new location offers a traditional Chipotle Mexican Grill experience for those who wish to order or dine inside. The Campus Parkway location in Merced joins the 1420 Pacheco Blvd. Chipotle in Los Banos as the only Merced County locations featuring the company’s “Chipotlane” drive-thru.

The company said it is still in the process of hiring employees and each location brings a total of about 30 jobs. Benefits include a debt-free college degree program, opportunity for bonuses and mental health care for employees and their families.

The Chipotle restaurant joins other establishments located at the city’s Gateway Marketplace near the intersection of Campus Parkway and South Coffee Street, such as a McDonald’s restaurant, Starbucks, Arco gas station and Tractor Supply.