Chipotle attracted hundreds of Mexican-food lovers Wednesday, handing out free burritos to a line that stretched all the way around the block.
Opening today on Heister Street, the Mexican Grill hopes to provide the community with "fabulous products with really, really high quality ingredients at really, really good prices," Chipotle spokeswoman Katherine Smith said.
By lunchtime, the line for free food went out the door and around the corner onto Calder Way.
Saraswati Verma (senior-immunology and infectious diseases) said the free burrito day was her first time ever eating at Chipotle -- she thoroughly enjoyed it.
"This tops any other Mexican food in State College," Verma said, munching on her chicken burrito. "This is my one restaurant I have to hit up whenever I'm near campus."
Smith said the free burrito day was a "fun thing to do to create excitement" around the opening of the new eatery, as well as a way for the employees to cater to having a constant, hungry crowd waiting for food.
"We can roll pretty fast," Smith said about Chipotle's burrito makers.
Students also received free drinks with their burritos and could win Chipotle T-shirts while waiting in the long line.
Chipotle joins other fast food Mexican establishments in State College, including Qdoba Mexican Grill, 206 W. College Ave., which has been in the area for more than five years. But Qdoba manager Travis Thornblade said he is not worried about Chipotle siphoning away their clientele.
"We have similar concepts, but we've built up a strong customer base ... we have a much more varied menu with many different options Chipotle doesn't offer," Thornblade said.
Steph Tibaldo (junior-psychology) said she has been eagerly awaiting the addition of a Chipotle to the plethora of downtown restaurants.
Admitting to eating at Chipotle at least once a week in her hometown, Tibaldo said the temptation of Chipotle is that it is "fast food but good food."
The freshness and quality of ingredients Chipotle uses are also enticements that pull Tibaldo to the restaurant time and time again, she said.
Lauren Williams (sophomore-public relations) said she was anxious for Chipotle to finally open in State College.
The 30-minute wait for her free fajita burrito Wednesday was definitely worth it, she said.
Qdoba doesn't compare to her first love of Chipotle, Williams said, because "the toppings here are better and more fresh," she said. She enjoys Chipolte's atmosphere more, too.
There won't be competition problems, Smith said, because everyone has their own preference in burritos and the Chipotle team is just "happy to be there."
