A Georgia developer has submitted site plans for a retail center project that would bring Chipotle Mexican Grill and as many as three other tenants to Starkville.
Mike Birnbry, CEO of Southbound Development Group of Atlanta, confirmed plans to convert the site currently occupied by Petty’s Barbecue at Highway 12 and Jackson Street into a 7,800-square-foot retail development to be anchored by the popular casual eatery.
“We have a signed lease with Chipotle and are working with (Starkville) through the application process,” Birnbry said Tuesday.
City Planner Daniel Havelin said the developer submitted its site plans on Dec. 1, the first step in the process for developing the site, which is referred to in the site plans as Cowbell Square.
“At this stage, the city department will each be going through the site plans to see what issues there might be — everything from setbacks (how far buildings are from the road), to traffic control to stormwater abatement,” Havelin said. “From there, they’ll apply for building permits.”
Havelin said the city’s process shortens the time for obtaining permits and getting approval from the Planning and Zoning Commission and board of aldermen.
“The process typically moves pretty fast,” Havelin said.
Birnbry is hoping the city will quickly approve the plans.
“Really, it’s a moving target right now, but the goal is to deliver (Chipotle) the space in the summer so they can open in the fall of 2021.”
Birnbry, who declined to say how much will be invested in the project, said he’s had informal talks with other prospective tenants. A sign at the site also advertises for tenants.
“We are talking to other interested parties, but it’s very informal at this point,” Birnbry said.
Most likely, he said, Chipotle would be one of three tenants.
“It could possibly go to four, depending on what the tenant’s plans turn out to be,” he said.
Chipotle opened its first restaurant in Colorado in 1993. As of 2019, the chain has 2,622 restaurants in the U.S. and Europe. The publicly-traded company does not franchise its restaurants.
Chipotle currently has two locations in Mississippi (Oxford and Southaven) and one in Tuscaloosa.
Starkville Mayor Lynn Spruill said the news has created a buzz in the community.
“It’s really taken off on social media, especially,” Spruill said. “People are excited and we are, too. We look forward to working with the developer to bring Chipotle to our city.”
Slim Smith is a columnist and feature writer for The Dispatch. His email address is [email protected].
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