The perfect marriage is finally complete… in less than 15 minutes the doors to the Blacksburg Chipotle will open, forever changing the food options of the town and campus while providing much needed burrito bliss to the New River Valley.

Despite some (crazy) speculation of how well a second nationwide Burrito joint will perform just up the street from the four year old Moe’s burrito joint, it is clear that Chipotle fanatics are down in Blacksburg ready to recruit an army of hungry Hokies. Dewey Nelson, today’s hero and scholar, has been camping out along with a handful of other fans in front of the new Main Street location which once housed Joe’s Barber and Stylist salon. They await patiently in hopes of being the location’s first customers this morning but of course many of us have been waiting many many years for this day to come.

I was crushed to find out that Charlottesville would be getting a Chipotle in advance of Blacksburg, and further miffed when I sent Chipotle Corporate a digital image of the old Crossroads storefront encouraging a Chipotle to move-in ASAP only to have it fall in to the hands of lowly Moe’s. But, with enough encouragement from Facebook groups, Northern Virginia Chipotle fans, and the undeniable truth that there is money in ‘dem there hills, Chipotle clearly has wised up. The new location is fairly isolated to other Chipotles so I do applaud them taking on all the new logistical hurdles and costs likely associated with such a remote store front. Five Guys made a similar move to Blacksburg almost six years ago and it has been a success ever since. Given what anticipation has been leading up to the grand opening I believe the Blacksburg Chipotle will be a beacon of success for the company (if anyone at Chipotle is reading this - why not test out the Dulles Airport Breakfast model in Blacksburg also!).

Though I can’t be like Mr. Nelson, I will be making my first trip to the B.B. C. next weekend to have what could quite possibly be my 1872nd burrito - I gave up count long ago - but I’ll just pretend for VT’s sake. Viva la Chipotle!

UPDATE 10/5/10 3PM: Reports via Twitter and Roanoke Times say the line is 100 customers deep and the wait is between 60 and 90 minutes for a burrito.

UPDATE 10/5/10 5PM: One question has been answered - Blacksburg Chipotle WILL serve alcohol (though currently they do not have any alcoholic beverages on display). Additionally the venue features the new sheet metal high top bar tables we have been seeing at new and remodeled locations. The weather has improved and the length of the line is still down the block as lunch shifts to dinner.

Read about the history of the Blacksburg Chipotle:

• A New Date For Blacksburg Chipotle, 9/11/10
• Blacksburg Chipotle Still on its Way, 6/8/10
• Blacksburg Chipotle Delays, 1/14/10
• The Dulles Chipotle Breakfast Options 8/23/09