On Thursday, Oct. 5, national restaurant chain Chipotle Mexican Grill will open its first Branford location at 2 Commercial Parkway, according to Chipotle's national field marketing firm, Linhart PR of Denver, CO. Normal hours of operation will be 10:45 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days per week.

In March 2016, Branford Planning and Zoning Commission approved site plans for the restaurant, submitted by architectural/engineering firm BL Companies on behalf of applicant Centercorp Retail Properties (Salem, MA). The property owner is listed as 870 North Main St. LLC. Construction involved partially demolishing an existing 5,395 square-foot building to create a 2,495 square-foot restaurant, accessed from Commercial Parkway off North Main Street (Route One). The new Chipotle Mexican Grill will include a sit-down restaurant, outdoor patio and 36 parking spaces for patrons.