Chipotle preparing to open its 36th SC Mexican grill at this Beaufort County location

Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc., will open its newest restaurant in South Carolina next month in an area of Beaufort that’s being invigorated with new retail development and restaurants.

Often known simply as Chipotle, the Newport Beach, California-based chain of fast casual restaurants specializes in bowls, tacos and Mission burritos made to order in front of the customer.

“We are planning to open the first Chipotle in Beaufort in March,” Chipotle spokesperson Sally Evans told the Beaufort Gazette and Island Packet.

Specifically, Chipotle says on its website, a March 6 opening is planned.

The new Chipotle is located in Beaufort Plaza shopping center at the busy intersection of Robert Smalls Parkway and Boundary Street. Its address is 21 Robert Smalls Parkway but the restaurant fronts Boundary Street and is across from Walgreens.

It will have a drive-through for pickup of digital orders, Evans said.

The Chipotle will be the second in Beaufort County — the other is at Bluffton’s first Tanger Outlet Mall at 1250 Fording Island Road — and the 36th in South Carolina.

As of Dec. 31, Evans said, Chipotle had nearly 3,200 restaurants nationwide. It is the only restaurant company of its size that owns and operates all its restaurants.

Chipotle is hiring in Beaufort, Evans said. On average, there are 25 jobs per restaurant that carry competitive benefits including a crew bonus, a debt-free college degree program (including English as a second language) and access to mental healthcare for employees and families.

Several new businesses have opened at Beaufort Plaza, which is owned by Paul Trask, following the completion of a $33 million redevelopment of Boundary Street in 2018 to make one of the city’s main thoroughfares more welcoming while encouraging development.

In July, a long-awaited Publix grocery store opened. The 48,387-square-foot store is located at 33 Robert Smalls Parkway. Burkes HomeCentric, a discount home goods retailer, also is open for business.

Five Guys, known for its hand-crafted burgers, is going up across from McDonald’s. And a Lowcountry Urgent Care is planned next to Chipotles.

The new facilities are joining existing tenants Burkes Outlet, Staples, Big Lots, Aaron’s appliance and electronics store and a U.S. Post Office.