Chipotle Shutters West End Location After Ceiling Rats Incident

After rats fell from the ceiling at a Chipotle location in Dallas’ West End last month, the Denver-based chain has officially closed the outpost until an inspection can be conducted.

A spokesperson for Chipotle says that the building will be “thoroughly checked out” before the restaurant reopens, according to NBC DFW. In a statement provided to Eater after the ceiling rat incident, Chipotle insisted that only “a few mice” had entered the building through a structural crack, but clearly the pest problem is decidedly more endemic.

Footage of multiple mice falling through the West End Chipotle’s ceiling racked up views on social media, which prompted the chain to issue a statement. “This is an extremely isolated and rare incident but of course never anything we’d want our customers to encounter,” it read in part.

When asked by Eater about the restaurant’s closure, Chipotle issued the following statement:

We have temporarily closed the Chipotle restaurant in Dallas’ historic West End District at 208 North Market Street so we can continue to thoroughly assess the construction of this 100-year-old building. Employees have been given the option to relocate to nearby Chipotle locations while our teams are evaluating the building. We regret any inconvenience and will reopen only when we are certain the building meets all Chipotle standards for operation.

• Chipotle Closes Dallas Restaurant After Rodent Sightings [NBC DFW]
• Diners Say Rats Fell From the Ceiling at a Dallas Chipotle [EDFW]