Get the weekly rundown Sign up to receive our weekly BizBuzz newsletter Email* Submit

Groton — Chipotle Mexican Grill is coming to southeastern Connecticut, answering the prayers of many in the region and igniting Chipotle-versus-Moe's debates on social media.

A sign that went up Wednesday at the corner of Route 12 and Toll Gate Road caught a lot of people's attention: "SPRING 2020 / COMING SOON! / CHIPOTLE / For Lease up to 2,000 Sq.Ft / For Information Call: 860-575-5988."

That number belongs to developer Henry Resnikoff, a Connecticut resident who said he and partner Bart Eisner, who is from Maryland, will be closing on the purchase of 258 Route 12 this month. That's the address of a commercially zoned building that includes Elegant Nails, Falk Chiropractic Wellness & Weight Loss, and Robert Guffey's Farmers Insurance office.

Resnikoff said the property interested him because of its location. He said he will be combining that lot with 15 Toll Gate Road, a residential parcel behind the building, and tearing down the building, which he called "functionally obsolete." That means the businesses there now are moving out.

Resnikoff is currently out to bid for construction and expects to break ground in mid-October. He said in the new building, there will be 2,430 square feet of space for Chipotle and another 2,000 square feet of retail space that is not yet spoken for.

The site plan shows two 1,000-square-foot proposed retail spaces. Resnikoff said there will be a bicycle rack, sidewalk to the street and cluster of trees.

"There were actually three national tenants that were interested; Chipotle just happened to be ahead of the curve," Resnikoff said. He thinks Chipotle recognized that southeastern Connecticut is a "healthy market" and liked the location due to its proximity to both the Naval Submarine Base and Interstate 95.

Groton is now in something of a Chipotle desert: The fastest drives might take one to Middletown, Branford or Warwick, R.I. — respectively 43, 43 and 47 miles away.

Resnikoff expects the new Chipotle to open in May or June of 2020. Chipotle spokesperson Regina Wu said the latest timeframe she has is summer 2020 but timing details tend to shift and are subject to change.

Beyond confirming Chipotle's plans to open a location in Groton next summer, Wu said she didn't have other details to share. She said in an email, "We are excited to bring Chipotle's responsibly sourced, classically-cooked, real food to the community!"

e.moser@theday.com