In addition to the many changes that come from leaving for college, many Tufts students from around the country are often disheartened to learn that they will be unable to find their favorite Mexican food chain in the Medford/Somerville area.
But the many Jumbos for whom the "fresh-Mex"-style restaurant chain Chipotle was an integral part of their high school days can finally dine happily once again.
The first Chipotle in all of New England will open its doors in Medford today.
"I could not be more excited," freshman Campbell Kleifoth said. "The first thing I did when I went home [for Thanskgiving] is ate two lunches, because I'd promised myself I'd eat one at Chipotle and one at Potbelly."
Now that there is a Chipotle in Medford, Kleifoth said, "It's going to be my main expense in college."
The new Chipotle is located at the Wellington Circle Plaza shopping center, which is not within comfortable walking distance to Tufts. While some say the distance will not discourage them, others say the nearly three-mile journey may be too much for a burrito. "I don't know if I would go out of my way," junior Andrea Thoumi said.
"I'd only go on the weekends," freshman Laura Berger said. "But it's still worth it for Chipotle."
"I'd be more excited if it were within walking distance, in Davis Square," freshman Andrew Helms said. "But I can find someone with a car."
Chipotle's Public Relations Consultant, Katherine Newell Smith, said that Chipotle is excited to be expanding into Medford and, effectively, into New England. "We've wanted to come into this market for quite a while," she said. "This was our first chance to get into it. It's just a matter of finding the right locations; we're pretty near Tufts."
Chipotle hosted a fundraiser for Medford High School last night. In exchange for a $5 donation to the school, attendees received a full Chipotle meal consisting of a burrito bol, salad, or set of tacos, along with chips, salsa and a drink. All proceeds will be used to purchase equipment and uniforms for the school's athletic program.
"We always like to do a fundraiser when we come to a community," Smith said. "We'll be doing something with Tufts, I promise. We want people to understand that we want to be part of the community and to be a good corporate citizen. And it's a lot of fun, too."
Of course, when it comes to Mexican food, Tufts students' old standby is Anna's Taquer?a, located in Davis Square. While some Jumbos may opt for the closer restaurant, others will feel inclined to make the trek to their old, familiar eatery. "Chipotle is better," Helms said. "I thought the meat at Anna's was bland, and that made for very bad burritos. I was very disappointed when I went there."
What makes Chipotle's burritos special, Smith said, is Chipotle's dedication to serving "very high-quality ingredients. All our meats are naturally raised on the East Coast," Smith said.
Whatever it is that makes Chipotle's burritos unique, many Jumbos will be relieved to see the restaurant in Medford. "I'm definitely going to get rides once in a while," Kleifoth said. "I'm going to have to get Chipotle if it's around here."
- Giovanni Russonello
Edit on December 6
The Dec. 1 item, "Chipotle in Medford!" (Dec. 1, 2006), incorrectly stated that all of Chipotle's meats are raised naturally on the East Coast. While all meats are raised naturally, only Chipotle's chickens are raised on the East Coast. Chipotle's pork is from Iowa and surrounding states; its beef is from Montana and other Western states.
