Is it going to be on the lot of the abandoned gas station? That lot is a bit of an eyesore.

Yep, Monica. That reminded me to add a picture.

Funny, I heard they were thinking about Sonic on that spot and I thouhgt it would be too small of an area. Chipolte is a good choice and they will be busy thats for sure.

That's nuts that they are moving that close to each other. The only difference I ever see is that Chapole has brown rice too. Other then that they are pretty much the same. I don't know how I feel about them as a business moving in so close to Qdoba I mean that's like putting a Target and a Walmart on the same parking lot. I would think out of respect for their compitition they would have moved down the street slightly.

I checked "other"; fine with me as long as it`s not in the "real" Ellicott City, known for a few years as the "Historic District". The rest of the 21043-21044 ZIP Code is no more Ellicott City than a fish is a bicycle. That`s this old grump`s story and I`m sticking to it.

Is this going to be similar to the diner twosome on the north side? I always wondered how that happened.

It's like the Lowe's/Home Depot or Walgreens/CVS phenomenon. There must be some type of business strategy there, but heck if it makes sense to me.

My kids love Chipotle. I'm happy that it will take 15 minutes off my travel time to get to one. For some reason they prefer it over Qdoba. But I'm afraid of what will happen to Mi Casa. I have nothing against the "big boys" fighting it out (Qdoba v Chipotle), but I am concerned about the small, locally owned restaurants.

Great, hey it's up to individuals some people like one restaurant more than another. I'm glad they're doing something with that corner, and it's right across the street from my daughters office!

I personally vote for Pachanga's any day!!!

What is the point of having THREE Mexican places at the same intersection? Who comes up with this stuff? Someone's business is sure to suffer; I just hope Mi Casa can survive. Our favorite by far!!

The Chipotle at the Mall is always insanely crowded, but they move people along well. I don't really like the taste of Qdoba, so I welcome this news. Ellicott City is zip codes 21043 and 21042, though. 20144 is Columbia. I disagree that Main Street is the only "authentic"' part of Ellicott City. There are historic landmarks all over the county, and while the Rte. 40 business corridor may not be very "pretty," the rest of E.C. certainly is!

typo - I meant 21044 is Columbia!

Great more fake Mexican

@Gina - competition is vital to the prosperity of this nation, and consumers will only benefit from it! I see no reason why this has to mean demise for the existing Mexican places - they might just have to try a little harder to win business, but that's a good thing!

Oh man. This will be the closest one to me living in Catonsville. Dangerous. Very dangerous.

Stay strong, Penny! Though if you want, we can work there every now and again ...

I had heard rumors this corner would get a chikfilA which would have been fantastic since there are also 2 of those in Columbia and 0 in EC.....I'm less excited about a chipotle since qdoba is just across street (although however so many retail shops got approved for such a small lot with such poor ingress/egress (where the qdoba is) is what makes going to qdoba such a bummer a lot of the time.

Makes no sense to have Qdoba and Chipotle at same corner. Traffic is bad already at that intersection. It will be a nightmare now. They needed to be further down the street but I guess they see how well Qdoba does and the almighty dollar means more. I guess thats "food with integrity"?

While I like Chipotle, I am disappointed that it will be going in right across the street from Qdoba (which I also like). I was hoping to get an independent restaurant or business in that space. I also agree with an earlier comment that the intersection is very difficult to navigate, especially if you are coming out of the shopping center where Qdoba is located, or out of Suntrust bank.

Is there any information on plans for the empty lot next to Blockbuster on Rt 40? It would seem to have been a better location for Chipotle than at the Rt40 and St Johns intersection

Qdoba might as well start packing. They have a lousy location in EC anyway.

Chipotle has a spin off asian restaurant called Shophouse that has received good reviews in DC. I would much rather see one there instead.

http://www.shophousekitchen.com/ie/

I wish Chipolte would look to move to Elkridge.

Would rather see a ChickFilA or Sonic. Qdoba right across the street. My teenage son has worked at both Qdoba and Chipotle and he tells me Qdoba makes more of the food at the restaurant where Chipotle brings most of it in already prepared. It sounds like " food with integrity" is just a marketing slogan for those guys.

Chipotle - YUCK! Besides, that corner is too congested already. Not enough parking either.

I don't want that restaurant there. they want the area to look like trash like in catonsville and laurel. I am so upset about this.

Mark, i wasn't purposely insulting either of these, as i have friends in laurel and used to live in catonsville. Rte 40 and route 1 are, to me, visually unappealing overbuilt. Like others said here, why another mexican place. The traffic at this intersection is terrible and it will only get worse.....

To all those who feel that a the neighborhood gets runied when a mexican carry out comes to town, I say move out. This is AMERICA

@Nana, you really need to read comments carefully before making ignorant remarks. They don't object to "Mexican" food on the corner. They are concerned for the two Mexican restaurants already there, that there may be too much in one close area for competitiveness sake.

I think this is a good corner to put in a fast food place, but not Chipote. White Castle would be better!

so did they get their variance?

There is a Sonic logo on a sign in front of a vacant lot lot at 40 and Bethany ( behind Yogicastle). Says something like 'soon' or 'coming soon' I think.