Tidying up Forest Hills

Some local residents have become quite vocal as of late about the dirty conditions in front of some of the restaurants and stores on Austin Street. Chipotle was one restaurant in particular that was called out for leaving trash that was leaking grease onto the sidewalk in front of its Austin Street location.

Below is an email from the chain that I was forwarded after a reader complained to them:

I'm sorry for the unpleasant sights outside of the store. I completely understand your frustration. I just called and spoke with our Apprentice General Manager, Chris, who has someone coming out as soon as possible, which is tomorrow early morning. We discussed having this taken care of on a more frequent basis so we can show a better appearance. Thank you for keeping us on our toes!

Sincerely,
Mike

Customer Service Consultant
Chipotle Mexican Grill

This email was from a few weeks ago. I'll take a look to see if the situation in front of Chipotle has improved at all, if the sidewalk is now clean.

It's great to see local residents staying on top of things like this. The same reader who contacted Chipotle above also forwarded me this information below:

I also spoke with my contact at the Doe Fund and although weed-pulling is not in the contract , I asked them to do me a one-time favor and start pulling all of the weeds from the tree pits all along Austin Street. They were happy to do it and started on Monday. I am an avid supporter of the Doe Fund. The job should be done in another week.

Also, I spoke with Superintendent Riese of the DSNY District QW6 and asked why the QB medians weren’t being cleaned as they usually had been in late August and early September of past years. He called me yesterday to advise that a crew started working on it on Tuesday. They started at 63 Dr and are now working east. It’s a big job. That’s why I have begged Koslowitz over and over to start a Doe Fund program just for QB. It’s a no-brainer!!!

Happy Summer!

Happy First Day of Summer! And what better way to kick it off than with a nice Margarita? I saw you can now enjoy one with your tasty Mexican fare at our neighborhood Chipotle...

Lining Up at the Forest Hills Chipotle

Apparently, I'm not the only one quite satisfied with the food they're serving up at our recently opened Chipotle on Austin St. The scene there Monday, 7:15 p.m. The line went around the entire place...

The Meaning of Lettuce, or Lack Thereof

So, is there a larger message in the fact that our new Chipotle was out of lettuce this morning when I went to get my chicken burrito? I think so. I think congratulations are in order to our fellow Forest Hillers and other Queens residents who have apparently done the near impossible: surprised even a major restaurant chain with their demand for its tasty burritos and other fixens.

Now, either I'm wrong and it's just an insignificant foul-up, or there is bigger meaning in the fact that Chipotle, with all its systems and forecasting expertise, fell short in predicting how much lettuce its Forest Hills store would need come the first Saturday of its opening week.

Yes, Chipotle, I know it's hard to fathom that a New York City neighborhood in this day and age could be this desperate for your offerings, but it is true. We are not your ordinary NYC neighborhood out here in FoHi. We've been kinda neglected in the food department until very recently in our little Queens hamlet, and Chipotle, you're now experiencing that first hand. It may be a bit of a struggle for a while to keep up, but I'm sure you'll get the hang of it eventually.

And, in the meantime, if you want to ease some of the customer surge at your new FoHi location, you may want to spread the word to your food chain friends (like Shake Shack), that you need some help out here in The Hills - desperately! You need help feeding all those hungry Fohillers! Pronto!

The Forest Hills Chipotle was already filling up by 11:20 a.m. Saturday. Lines have been spilling onto Austin St. 

My first "made in Forest Hills" Chipotle burrito, about to be devoured.

Chipotle Opens, Finally

Just a reminder: As of today we no longer have to venture outside of FoHi for our Chipotle. Now that's a wrong that has finally been corrected! (Next up, fingers crossed, Shake Shack!)

Chipotle staff preparing for their opening day today.

More Chipotle Pics

70-30 Austin Street 

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Coming Soon!

Phone	718.709.4385   |  Fax 718.263.3240
Hours	Mon-Sun 11am-10pm

	70-30 Austin Street
	Forest Hills, NY 11375

Chipotle Sign Going Up

Thanks to the two readers who sent in these photos today....

Chipotle - Another View

Here's a better pic of the inside of the Chipotle under construction on Austin St. It's impressive how much more space they were able to create through combining the two former businesses at this location...

Inside Forest Hills' Chipotle

This is going into the space where Martha's Country Bakery and Ariana's pizza used to be ...

Chipotle Construction Commences

I can taste those burritos now.. Can't wait. It will be so nice to have 'em here whenever I so desire!

Chipotle Getting Underway

I'm at the Edge of the City Mountain Compound for part of the long weekend. But one of my readers had sent this in. So thought I'd post it...this is on the storefront where they're building the new Chipotle, next to Martha's on Austin St.

New Information on Chipotle for FoHi

Now we are hearing that Chipotle will probably be coming to Forest Hills, in the old Martha's Bakery space on Austin. A commenter had written about that here months ago and the information now seems more reliable so I am tentatively reporting it.

I believe this will be the first Chipotle in Queens. If I'm wrong, let me know.

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