Scuttlebutt: Chipotle coming to the old Millie and Al’s space?!?!

by Prince Of Petworth July 6, 2016 at 11:35 am 41 Comments

2440 18th Street, NW

Tipster sends word: “was told old Millie and Als space is becoming a Chipotle”.

Good news or bad news? Be honest…

Jeff

District Taco > Chipotle
- As If
  
  amen to that
Greg

100% bad news. Need better Mexican/healthy options in Admo, not Chipotle.
Adam

I thought the guys from Taylor purchased this for a new concept?
Trinidaddy

only if they have $1 jello shots with a blinky light
Philippe Lecheval

I’m not terribly shocked. After all, it’s not the first chain restaurant in Adams Morgan.
OP Anon

Ahahahahahahahaha. This is “the Mexican place coming from the creator of Taylor Gourmet”? He basically used his proceeds to buy into the Chipotle franchise?
Also, La Fourchette is being renovated into a Mexican restaurant. So weird.
- J Street
  
  I’m reading that Chipotle doesn’t franchise. https://chipotle.com/faq
Nancy

Chipolte? Yuck. Can’t someone find financing for a new fun dive bar :). M&A’s .2
jch

Sad that only corporate chains and “trendy” restaurant groups can now afford a lot of the areas in the city. Gone are the dive bars . Small plates and hand crafted cocktails anyone?
- justinbc
  
  If it’s any consolation, many of the residents who would have previously been regulars at said dive bars can no longer afford to live there either.
John

I can’t say I necessarily expected another bar or something more eclectic, since it seems like that space would need a lot of work to get things up and running. That being said, it is disappointing to see a spot as unique and beloved as Millie and Al’s get converted into a national chain. I’m sure it’ll do well, but it definitely stings a little.
los

We need government intervention!
Missy

Could be better, could be worse. I hate the Columbia Heights Chipotle and always forget the Woodley Park location so I’d like it for a quick dinner option.
FormerAdamsMorgan

I recently moved out of Adams Morgan after having lived there for many years. I also grew up in the area and used to go out there in the 90s and early 00s. I think many folks already realize this, but Adams Morgan is not where you’ll find interesting new nightlife anymore. It’s just not, and hasn’t been for a while. It’s still a vibrant neighborhood with at least a few worthy restaurants and bars, but it’s at once a faux-bohemian/boardwalk/fratty place that’s really directed towards the college and barely out of college crowd.

The main issue is that it’s no longer the only game in town. H St, 11 St, 14th St, and now Upshur and Kennedy Street are attracting new investment and are “cooler” places to go out.
- textdoc
  
  +1 to “The main issue is that it’s no longer the only game in town.” (Though I would have said it was _one_ of the only games in town in the late ’90s, not the only one.)
  .
  I’ve found that in the years since I moved out of Adams Morgan, it’s become a nicer place — people who used to clog the sidewalks along 18th Street are now clogging them along U Street.
  .
  And don’t forget Songbyrd, which is like an oasis for the out-of-their-20s folk.
  - FormerAdamsMorgan
    
    Agreed, there was also Dupont Circle and Georgetown, both which have lost some luster for the same reasons.
  - MtP
    
    I actually like Adams Morgan better in many ways now than six years ago because a lot of the crazy traffic has migrated eastward. There are some super quality bars (many with live music) and some really good restaurants, and it is actually less crazy than U/14th these days. This is why I would be sad if Chipotle moves in – I want Adams Morgan to keep on the path of becoming a fun, local, diverse going out spot that still retains a lot of its old neighborhood character.
    - justinbc
      
      Several years ago Adams Morgan decided to be more “grown up”, for the better.
      - MtP
        
        Agreed. I feel like it is almost becomming a “hidden” good neighborhood. Sure, it can still be a bit rough post-11pm on Fridays and Saturdays, but lots of good stuff there.
      - Bryan
        
        Millie & Al’s is/was a by far more grown up place in every definition of the term than a freaking Chipotle could ever be.
      - justinbc
        
        Millie & Al’s is/was also a singular business, not a neighborhood.
- TX2DC
  
  Well said. AdMo’s funky, eclectic days are over. The action started shifting eastward long ago.
  - d
    
    Yeah, the bro action shifted eastward. If anything, AdMo is funkier now than it was six years ago. Not a fan of Chipotle for this spot though.
- rintintin
  
  I don’t think you’re appreciating what Adams Morgan has become as a more mature neighborhood. There’s more to a neighborhood than being the hip, trendy spot and by dismissing it for not being what it was for a relatively brief period, you’re arguably missing a neighborhood that is better than ever.
  
  It is attracting higher-end restaurants like Tail Up Goat and Mintwood Place. There are interesting hidden spaces like Dr. Clock’s Nowhere Bar and the basement of Songbyrd making great music and, for the latter, paying homage to the past. Potter’s House revamped itself into a stellar cafe and bookstore. Ace Hardware opened. The new hotel will bring a whole new element.
  
  Perhaps most importantly, it’s a great place to live with a higher level of safety, refurbished and revitalized parks in Kalorama Park and Walter Pierce, and is still adjacent to Rock Creek Park making it such a great blend of urban and natural.
- Adam Morgan
  
  Who cares if it’s for young people? I go to 14th St for instance and see so many middle-aged people. It’s fine if you’re too mature for it, but Adams Morgan is still a fun, kick-ass place.
kallie

just gross.
Otis Gal

Bad bad bad.
dj

how many chipotles do they need in a 1/2 mile radius?!! dumb.
- jaybird
  
  what ever the market will bear.
Derek

I just threw up in my mouth.
justinbc

Don’t really care, Dan’s was / is a better craphole bar anyway.
stacksp

Apparently no one likes Chipotle yet they are always so packed when I walk by and small business owners continue to buy their franchises.
- [rrrrr]
  
  They don’t franchise.
  - stacksp
    
    ahh….
The Other Jason

The race is on! 7-11 has held the early, commanding lead with 5 locations in the AdMo/CoHei area. But now Chipotle is picking up steam. With this, their third location in the area (plus Woodley). Who knows what’s next? Maybe Red Derby will close down and become a Chipotle? Maybe in the old bakery on 11th? The options are limitless and the walls are hungry for Corporate signage!!!
BethPopville

Sweet. Green. PLEASE.
Ward One Resident

Not the first time there has been a rumor about Chipotle coming to the neighborhood. A few years ago the rumor was swirling that it was coming into the old Mix-Tec space…which still sits vacant today.
SweetBabyRae

DEAR GOD NO!!!!!
Brian

how long will it take before some shitfaced frat kid scrambles over the sneeze guard, going after their burrito-rista who skimped on the guac?
AdMo Resident

The AdMo shift from power hour to stroller meetups is well underway

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