More than a year after Jersey Digs reported Chipotle was coming to Journal Square, the super-popular chain is finally open. Chipotle Mexican Grill inked the lease last July for a prime 2,321-square-foot space at 26 Journal Square which is owned by KABR Group and Kushner Companies. Located immediately across Sip Avenue from the Journal Square Transportation Center and next to Hudson County Community College, the new Chipotle is sure to see a lot of foot traffic.
The recent opening fills a fast-casual restaurant void since the nearby Flatbread Grill has been shuttered since the beginning of this year. Also located at 26 Journal Square on the other side of the commercial building’s main entrance, the Mediterranean restaurant has been in a dispute, that could head to court, with Kushner Companies over a severe leak and will not be reopening.
26 Journal Square, originally known as the Labor Bank Building, stands 15 stories tall and was completed in 1928. Well known as Jersey City’s first skyscraper, 26 Journal Square has undergone significant capital improvements over the last year, including a lobby redesign, elevator upgrade, and bathroom renovation.
As of September 2018, Chipotle had more than 2,450 restaurants across the U.S., Canada, the U.K., France, and Germany, and it is the only restaurant company of its size to still own and operate every location. Founder Steve Ells opened the first Chipotle in Denver, Colorado, in 1993, and the rest is history. Mission-style burritos along with tacos, burrito bowls, and salads, plus chips and guacamole, round out the menu and Chipotle prides itself on real, fresh ingredients.
The 26 Journal Square location is open seven days a week from 10:45 a.m. to 10 p.m. and online ordering is also available. A second Jersey City Chipotle is located in the Newport Tower at 525 Washington Boulevard and a Hoboken outpost can be found at 229 Washington Street.
