MADE FRESH — Chipotle Mexican Grill is set to open a restaurant in Weirton later this year, taking up the remaining 3,000 square feet of this building under construction along Three Springs Drive. - Craig Howell

WEIRTON — A national restaurant chain known for its fresh, made-to-order Mexican-style food soon will be opening a new location in Weirton.

Chipotle Mexican Grill is set to take up residence in the Three Springs business plaza by the end of the year, filling the remainder of a building currently under construction which also will house a Primanti Bros. Restaurant and Bar.

“They’re super excited to be in the Weirton market,” explained developer Jesse Krieg, who has been working to bring the restaurant to the community for the last nine months.

Headquartered in Newport Beach, Calif., Chipotle is known for its variety of burritos, tacos, quesadillas, bowls, salads and more, with food prepared fresh each day and as it is ordered by customers. The company operates restaurants in the U.S. and Canada, as well as parts of western Europe.

When Krieg announced the Primanti Bros. plans in January, he said his intention was to bring in another restaurant to complete the 7,000-square-foot building he has been developing within the plaza which has seen its own renaissance in recent years through the opening of businesses such as ALDI, Big Lots, O’Reilly Auto Parts and an upcoming Pet Supplies Plus.

“I wanted to get another anchor tenant, but I didn’t know who it was going to be,” he said.

Krieg explained, through his work and travels, he was familiar with a variety of restaurants, but he wanted to make sure it would be one beneficial to Weirton. He came up with a list of three to five potential businesses, eventually landing on Chipotle.

Working with local attorney Dan Guida, an agreement was reached with a goal of the restaurant being able to open in December.

The Chipotle will fill 3,000 square feet of the building, with additional space for a patio, and Krieg said there also are plans for a pickup window for use by customers who submit their orders ahead of time through Chipotle’s website or smartphone application.

“This worked out perfectly,” Krieg said of the pairing of Chipotle and Primanti. “These two restaurants will change the landscape of Weirton.”

(Howell can be contacted at chowell@weirtondailytimes.com)