Content about Cuisine of the Western United States

Emeryville, Calif. -- Coffee retailer Peet's Coffee & Tea said it is being taken private for approximately $977.6 million.
 
German conglomerate Joh. A. Benckiser – a minority stakeholder in an international coffee and tea company D.E. Master Blenders 1753 – will reportedly pay a premium $73.50 per share, putting the deal’s total value at nearly $1 billion.

West Hartford, Conn. -- Jacksonville, Fla.-based Regency Centers said that Chipotle Mexican Grill will open a new restaurant at Corbin’s Center, located in West Hartford, Conn.

The 3,500-sq.-ft. restaurant is slated to open October 2012.

Corbin’s Center, at 186,163 sq. ft., is anchored by Trader Joe’s alongside national retailers such as Best Buy, Old Navy and Toys “R” Us.

New York City -- Chipotle Mexican Grill has opened a new format, called ShopHouse Southeast Asian Kitchen, in Washington, D.C.’s, DuPont Circle neighborhood.

The Asian-themed eatery uses the same set-up as the company’s namesake restaurants, with customers able to customize the food offerings.
 

Westchester, Ill. -- Tri-Land Properties announced Thursday that Marshalls and Qdoba Mexican Grill have joined the company’s projects in Indiana and Minnesota.

At Southern Plaza, a 335,000-sq.-ft. Indianapolis shopping center anchored by Kroger and Office Depot, Marshalls has opened a 24,084-sq.-ft. store.

At Century Plaza, a 300,592-sq.-ft. shopping center located in Merrillville, Ind. anchored by Staples and Old Time Pottery, Qdoba Mexican Grill has opened a 2,700-sq. ft. Mexican fast-casual restaurant.

Chicago -- Oakbrook Terrace, Ill.-based Mid-America Asset Management said that Chipotle Mexican Grill, along with Clearly Cares Dental, have recently signed leases at Elston Plaza in Chicago.

Denver-based Chipotle Mexican Grill, which leased 2,405 sq. ft., plans to open a restaurant in third quarter 2011. Clearly Cares Dental signed a lease for 1,500 sq. ft. with plans to open this summer.

Elston Plaza is a 91,713-sq.-ft. Jewel/Osco-anchored shopping center in northwest Chicago.
 

Silver Spring, Md. -- Jacksonville, Fla.-based Regency Centers said it has leased 1,990 sq. ft. of restaurant space in Silver Spring, Md., at Woodmoor Shopping Center to Chipotle Mexican Grill.

The restaurant is slated to open this summer.

The 67,403-sq.-ft. shopping center includes national retailers such as CVS/pharmacy, Starbucks, The UPS Store and Tuesday Morning.

New York City -- Chipotle Mexican Grill founder, chairman and co-CEO Steve Ells is developing an Asian fast-casual concept that he expects to debut in mid-2011, according to Nation’s Restaurant News.

The new concept will be similar in pricing to Chipotle, the report said.

Ells said in a statement, “Since opening the first Chipotle some 17 years ago, I have often thought about how other types of food might fit the Chipotle model.”