Chipotle Set for Food Court Opening at Westfield Brandon

The Chipotle Mexican Grill is coming to the Westfield Brandon shopping mall food court, where a ceiling-to-floor sign in the spot announces: "Burritos, Tacos, Salads, Soon." The sign also announces, "We're hiring," with the link to do so at Chipotle.com/careers.

The Westfield Brandon Chipotle rests between existing grill locations in Brandon (at 829 East Bloomingale Avenue, in the Publix- and Walmart-anchored Bloomingdale Plaza, at the corner of Bell Shoals Road) and South Tampa (at 533 South Howard Ave.).

• See Chipotle Mexican Grill Coming to Brandon (June 27, 2011)

The chain also has four other Tampa locations:

• 2576 East Fowler Ave.
• 309 North Westshore Blvd.
• 12827 North Dale Mabry Hwy.
• 7002 Gunn Hwy.

Chipotle Mexican Grill specializes in gourmet burritos and tacos. The restaurant was founded by Steve Ellis, who enrolled in the Culinary Institute of America and became a chef. He said the inspiration for Chipotles was the little taquerias he frequented while living San Francisco. He wanted to open a restaurant that would elevate the typical fast food. With a modest loan, he moved back to Colorado and started the first Chipotle in 1993.

For more on the Chipotle Mexican Grill story, visit Chipotle.com.