03.15.04 - For Immediate Release
Chipotle Gourmet Burritos Takes a Trip Downtown
Chipotle Hosts Grand Opening Fundraisers with 100% of the proceeds benefiting Austin Music Foundation and Arthouse

Austin, TX - Chipotle Mexican Grill (http://www.chipotle.com/) celebrates the grand opening of its eighth Austin-area restaurant on March 31st.  The new location is on the first floor of the historic Eugene Bremond building at 801 Congress. This will be the first downtown Chipotle restaurant in Austin.  In recognition of the opening, Chipotle will host two fundraisers to benefit non-profit organizations for emerging artists:  Austin Music Foundation (AMF, www.austinmusicfoundation.org) and Arthouse at the Jones Center (http://www.arthousetexas.org/). 

Chipotle recognizes the importance of the creative community in Austin and is proud to support the arts in Austin.  These efforts continue a nationwide Chipotle tradition of helping worthy causes in communities where it does business. 

The AMF fundraiser will take place on Monday, March 29th from 6pm-9pm.  The following evening, Tuesday, March 30th, Chipotle will host the Arthouse fundraiser from 6pm-9pm. Both events are open to the public.  Customers can order from Chipotle's menu of fresh, made-to-order gourmet burritos and tacos, with 100% of the proceeds in cash or check benefiting AMF & Arthouse.    

Founded in 2002, AMF is a non-profit group that is dedicated to advancing Austin musicians and developing a sustainable local music community.  "Fundraisers and private donations are a crucial component to funding for the Austin Music Foundation.  So we are very excited that Chipotle chose us as one of their fundraisers," says Nikki Rowling, co-founder of AMF. 

Originally founded in 1911 as the Texas Fine Arts Association, Arthouse promotes the growth and appreciation of contemporary art and artists in Texas through exhibitions and education programs, helping to nuture and develop the artists' careers in Austin and statewide.  " need a small quote from Arthouse." Arthouse is located at 700 Congress Ave.

Chipotle (named after the dried, mesquite-smoked jalapeno pepper and pronounced Chi-POAT-lay) pays as much or more attention to detail as any higher priced restaurant: crushing and toasting premium-quality spices; making guacamole in-house daily with the highest grade of perfectly ripe Haas avocados; braising free-range Niman Ranch pork with fresh herbs and spices for its carnitas; continuously grilling never-frozen, marinated meats; preparing kosher-salted tortilla chips daily and steaming a new batch of rice every hour, mixing it with just-plucked cilantro leaves and freshly-squeezed lime juice. It's that attention to detail that has earned Chipotle a loyal following and the critics' praise throughout the country.

"We offer what we think is a sophisticated, unconventional twist on those traditional favorites - burritos and tacos," Steve Ells, Chipotle Founder & CEO says. "We focus on using whole, fresh, flavorful ingredients like Niman Ranch free-range pork in order to create food with integrity.  You won't find anything pre-fab, frozen or processed at Chipotle." 

There are currently close to 300 Chipotle Mexican Grill restaurants nationwide serving the rapidly growing "fast-casual" restaurant customer.  Steve Ells, a classically trained chef, opened the first Chipotle in Denver in 1993 with the single-minded goal of serving fresh, gourmet-quality food at reasonable prices.  He developed all of the restaurant's recipes.  Under his direction, the Chipotle kitchen operates more like that of a high-end restaurant than a simple burrito joint.   A 20-ounce Chipotle burrito costs between $5.25 and $5.75.

For More Information Contact:
David Whitman Milam & Co.
[email protected]
(512) 472-3444
Cell- (512) 293-6916
or visit the Chipotle website: http://www.chipotle.com/