Chipotle says it plans to open burger restaurant

A Chipotle Mexican Grill employee prepares food at a restaurant in Seattle on Dec. 15.
A Chipotle Mexican Grill employee prepares food at a restaurant in Seattle on Dec. 15.

NEW YORK — Chipotle is branching out from burritos and plans to open its first burger restaurant.

A spokesman for Chipotle, Chris Arnold, said in an email the company's first Tasty Made burger restaurant will open in this fall in Lancaster, Ohio. He did not immediately provide other details.

Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc. has also already opened an Asian food concept called ShopHouse and a pizza concept called Pizzeria Locale.

The opening of the burger concept comes as Chipotle fights to recover from an E. coli outbreak and norovirus cases that sent sales plunging at its namesake chain.

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