NORTH ANDOVER -The Fresh City chain closed its Turnpike Street restaurant yesterday after four years of serving burritos, stir frys, salads and sandwiches.
Fresh City co-owner Larry Reinstein said the North Andover franchise, located in the Eaglewood Shops mall, was a casualty of the difficult economy. He would not say when the decision was made to close the restaurant.
"We thank our many guests for their patronage," Reinstein said yesterday. "We appreciate it, but it became an unprofitable location."
A restaurant with a similar business model, the Chipotle Mexican Grill, could be coming to take Fresh City's place.
North Andover Health Director Susan Sawyer said Chipotle recently applied for a permit to open a new restaurant in a portion of the premises formerly occupied by Fresh City at 93A Turnpike Street.
The application must be approved by the Board of Health.
Sawyer said yesterday the town did not know of Fresh City's plan to close.
"We have no knowledge that they're closing, but we do have knowledge of a new applicant," she said.
Fresh City opened in the Eaglewood Shops in November 2005.
It was business as usual there on Thursday. But by yesterday afternoon, workers were removing tables, chairs and counters and the sign on the building had been taken down.
Reinstein, the president of Needham-based Fresh Concepts LLC, said there are 17 other Fresh City restaurants in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Connecticut and Virginia.
"All other locations are doing just fine," he said.
Reinstein said he did not know how many Fresh City employees worked out of North Andover or when they were told about the plan to close the location.
"We're trying to take care of as many employees as we can at other locations," said Reinstein. "Within reason, we're going to try to transfer as many as we can."
With only three New England locations listed on its Website, in Boston, Newington, N.H., and Providence, R.I., Chipotle Mexican Grill serves burritos, fajitas, tacos and salads.
Like Fresh City, Chipotle's Website boasts the use of fresh, healthy ingredients in its food.
The 80,000 square-foot Eaglewood Shops opened in 2005. It is managed by Boston-based Urban Retail Properties, LLC. A corporate spokesperson could not be reached for comment yesterday.
