clarence B.
CHIPOTLE...NOT WHAT IT ONCE WAS
I had a couple lunch options at Tuscan Village in Salem New Hampshire, and I chose Chipotle—something quick and comforting. Unfortunately, this visit left a really bad taste, and it wasn't from the food. The moment I walked in, the place just felt off. The dining area looked like it hadn’t been cleaned all morning, and the restroom—don’t even bother. The overwhelming smell of urine was so bad I couldn't use it. I actually left and went to a different business nearby just to wash my hands. That kind of neglect doesn't happen overnight. It reflects deeper issues—probably a regional manager spread too thin, and a local manager trapped in a cycle of low pay, high turnover, and no real support. It showed in the team. The woman behind the counter looked like she hated every second of being there. When I politely asked for mild salsa, she responded with the enthusiasm of someone being asked to donate a kidney. I said “thank you” and got no eye contact, no response, not even a grunt. Just cold indifference. She clearly spent more time doing her makeup than learning basic customer service. I didn’t come in expecting luxury. I came in expecting clean food, a clean space, and some basic human courtesy. Chipotle fell short on all three.