From Staff Reports
TRAVERSE CITY — Chipotle, a nationwide chain selling Mexican-inspired cuisine, could finally be coming to Traverse City.
Garfield Township planning commissioners on Wednesday will review a site plan for the fast-casual restaurant. It would be built as a freestanding location at the southwest corner of the former Macy’s parking lot. Township planners approved a larger plan to redevelop the vacant department store in April 2025.
Messages were left for Chipotle’s media office and Garfield Township Planner John Sych on Monday.
The new restaurant would be 2,385 square feet total, with 16 parking spaces included, drawings show. Plans are to split the 0.43-acre lot off from the parent parcel.
If built as planned, diners could get their food through a drive-through window, but not in the typical fashion. The site plan shows that rather than customers ordering their food while in the drive-through line, then advancing to pay and get their take-out, the drive-through would be for internet and app orders only.
Sych recommended that Garfield planning commissioners approve the site plan with seven conditions. Those include completing the required land division, and another codifying applicant PEA Group’s assertion that no menu boards will be installed for the drive-through.
It’s not the first time a developer at least hinted at bringing Chipotle to the region. In mid-2022, planning commissioners approved a site plan to tear down part of a car dealership that previously moved.
Garfield Retail Management proposed a three-tenant building with a restaurant and drive-through lane, with renderings showing a Chipotle.
Those plans apparently fell through, as online listings show the former auto retail building is still on the market.
If you go What: Garfield Township Planning Commission meeting When: 7 p.m. Wednesday Where: Garfield Township Hall, 3848 Veterans Drive