Chipotle Mexican Grill has announced that it has entered into a joint venture to launch a fast-casual pizza concept called Pizzeria Locale.
The new venture, on which the company has partnered with restaurateurs Bobby Stuckey and Lachlan Mackinnon-Patterson, opened its first fast-casual location in May and is exploring options for second and third locations in Denver.
Pizzeria Locale offers a menu that includes 10 classic pizzas, four American classics and customer-created combinations
The original Pizzeria Locale in Boulder opened in 2011 and was created by Frasca Food and Wine founders Stuckey, a master sommelier, and executive chef Mackinnon-Patterson. The full-service restaurant is a contemporary pizzeria inspired by traditional pizzerias in Naples, Italy.
The company said that the new Denver restaurant draws from the same inspiration.
Steve Ells, founder, chairman and co-chief executive of Chipotle, said: “Bobby and Lachlan are extraordinary restaurateurs who truly understand what it takes to provide an exceptional dining experience. I have known them for years, and I thought their pizzeria in Boulder presented the perfect opportunity to collaborate.”
