I don't get why everyone thinks the E. coli outbreak was such a big deal. I've only heard this discussed in "articles" and by "experts". Not real people in my life. The E. coli thing is not not why I, my family, my friends, my coworkers, and everyone else I know doesn't eat there anymore.
We don't eat there because:
(1) It's at an awkward price-point and inconvenient food nature. Sure it's good food, but if I'm in the market for fast-food stuff I'm likely not in the mood to wait in a slow line, pay that premium price, and spend twice or three times as much time to eat a burrito or bowl as it would to eat a burger or taco. If I'm going to go through all of that, I might as well pay just a couple of dollars more and go to a proper restaurant.
(2) We stopped hearing about Chipotle, and often forget it even exists. It's been probably a year since I've seen or heard any advertising from them aside from a "student discount 5% off Thursdays from 5pm-7pm only" banner tied to their awning when I drive by.
Anecdotally, I definitely heard the outbreak discussed frequently here in NY -- probably because I regularly eat there, and so did my friends (up until the outbreak anyway). Maybe you didn't since your friend circle stopped eating there before the outbreak?
We don't eat there because:
(1) It's at an awkward price-point and inconvenient food nature. Sure it's good food, but if I'm in the market for fast-food stuff I'm likely not in the mood to wait in a slow line, pay that premium price, and spend twice or three times as much time to eat a burrito or bowl as it would to eat a burger or taco. If I'm going to go through all of that, I might as well pay just a couple of dollars more and go to a proper restaurant.
(2) We stopped hearing about Chipotle, and often forget it even exists. It's been probably a year since I've seen or heard any advertising from them aside from a "student discount 5% off Thursdays from 5pm-7pm only" banner tied to their awning when I drive by.