Bend’s Chipotle Mexican Grill ready to open

Chipotle Mexican Grill will open its first Central Oregon outlet in northeast Bend on Friday morning, officials confirmed Wednesday.

But invited guests already were lining up Wednesday night for a special event, and a sign at the restaurant said it opens Thursday.

The Denver-based company said the Bend Chipotle will formallyopen its doors at 11 a.m. Friday at 222 Northeast Emerson Avenue, beside Walgreens at the corner of Third Street and Franklin Avenue, said spokeswoman Danielle Winslow.

NewsChannel 21 learned of the restaurant’s plans in June, and it will share a building with a Jersey Mike’s Subs restaurant.

Chipotle opened its first restaurant in 1993 and now has more than 1,800, including 17 outside the U.S. The Bend store is expected to employ 25 to 30 people.