Chipotle to Add Beer, Margaritas to Menu

If you're a fan, you'll be able to sip Mexican beer and margaritas (even outdoors on the patio) with your burrito once the state signs off on a new liquor license for the restaurant. The Peabody Licensing Board gave its approval last week.

Representatives from the Mexican style grill told the board there are no plans to change the layout of the restaurant, which is located in the end of the Northshore Mall. Alcohol – and it would be Mexican beer and margaritas only – would only be served from behind the cashier’s register to customers who also purchased food.

Board clerk Julie Rydzewski said Chipotle was also committing to a two-drink limit per customer.

The restaurant opened in the spring of 2008 and had always been interested in serving alcohol, as it does at its other chain locations, but there weren’t any licenses on the market in its price range, company representatives told the board last week.

That situation changed when the by the state because Peabody’s population increased by 6.5 percent in the past 10 years.

Now, Chipotle will only owe the city $2,250 and a $50 application fee once the state Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission approves the license application as well. That's far less than what some of its mall competitors paid other establishments for their liquor licenses in recent years.

paid $135,000 and spent $125,000 for the same type of license.