Chipotle restaurant to open outside Westmoreland Mall

Chipotle Mexican Grill is opening another location in Hempfield, but this one will be outside of Westmoreland Mall.

The chain restaurant will be built outside of J.C. Penney’s in an auxiliary parking lot next to Applebee’s along Route 30.

Plans for the project originally showed a space big enough to hold two tenants, Enercon Services engineer Rege Sofranko said. After a lease fell through, Sofranko redrew the plans to make room for only Chipotle.

Plans were moved forward for technical review by the Hempfield Area Planning Commission on Wednesday, making it the second Chipotle location in the township. The restaurant already has a location across from Greengate Centre, next to Five Guys and Subway.

Chipotle isn’t the only development headed to the outskirts of the mall. IronRock Tap House, at the former Ground Round site, is set to open in late spring or early summer.

The restaurant will offer a wide range of menu items and an extensive alcohol selection.

Changes are happening in Westmoreland Mall, including a minicasino headed to the former Bon-Ton location, which announced national closures in April.