The former Denny’s restaurant along Route 30 in Irwin soon will meet the wrecking ball.
Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc. has received a permit from Irwin Borough to demolish the restaurant at 9174 Route 30, said Shari Martino, borough manager. Chipotle did not list the company that will demolish the building, Martino said.
Chipotle in December announced it intended to build a new restaurant this year at that site. Denny’s closed at the beginning of the year.
Caterina Pagano, an engineer with Bohler, told the Irwin Planning Commission in December that it could have the restaurant open this fall, but that was based on beginning site preparation in February, which did not occur.
The company has said Chipotle in Irwin will feature a new interior design style, called Habanero, that includes new materials, textures and artwork that honors the Chipotle company’s history. The style is smaller than some of its existing restaurants.
Annie Gradinger, a spokeswoman for the Mexican food chain based in Newport Beach, Calif., could not be reached for comment Thursday.
The new Chipotle in Irwin is one of 350 to 370 restaurant openings the chain is planning for this year, according to the company’s statement announcing its first-quarter net income of $302 million. Chipotle has about 4,100 restaurants in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and several other countries.
The property remains under the ownership of Betty G. Ratner, according to the Westmoreland County tax map.