Chipotle coming to Pendleton
Published 3:00 pm Friday, March 28, 2025
- Construction is underway March 27, 2025, at the former Umpqua Bank building in Pendleton to turn the site into a Chipotle Mexican Grill. (Yasser Marte/East Oregonian)
PENDLETON — A Chipotle Mexican Grill soon will open in Pendleton, according to the city’s planning department.
The new restaurant is under construction but will be in the former Umpqua Bank building, 1701 SW Court Ave., across from Momiji Sushi and Hibachi and in the same lot as Kind Leaf Pendleton. It will feature sit-down and drive-thru options.
Annie Gradinger, senior analyst with External Communications for Chipotle, said the plan is to open the restaurant this winter. She said Chipotle averages 30 jobs per location, and the positions come with benefits that include tuition reimbursement, access to mental health care and $200 referral bonuses for employees who refer a crew member and $750 referral bonuses for employees who refer an apprentice or a general manager.
According to City Planner Julie Chase, the construction work is happening in two phases.
The first, now underway, will modify the exterior of the building and the site itself. Later, the interior work will begin, but Chase said she doesn’t believe that has started. Work permits are valid for 180 days and then require an inspection to revalidate them for another 180 days.
Construction will be complete by early August, according to Joseph Hull with McCormack Construction.
Kind Leaf Pendleton owner Erin Purchase said McCormack Construction will demolish much of the building to make room for more parking. She said she expects more traffic in the lot once the restaurant opens.
“It’ll be a very exciting thing for not only us but the city in general,” she said. “Having it by the rodeo grounds will be awesome, another option for our tourists. One thing coming to town can help bring more into our community.”
Purchase also said she’s excited about the variety of food Chipotles serve, saying it’s “kind of a fast food but more of a healthy option.”
Chipotle, which offers burritos, bowls, salads and more, plans to open 315 to 345 new locations in 2025, up from 304 in 2024. At least 80% of its new locations will have a drive-thru option, called a Chipotlane.
