Share the Love Adventure Melinda Wilson.

melindawilson@gmail.com. Learn more about Melinda on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melinda-wilson-196928104

It’s April 2, 2016, I just woke up from my nap after work. I feel groggy but excited that I am about to have some delicious Chipotle in my tummy! So yummy! I have 15 minutes to meet Sam and Komail at Chipotle Mexican Grill. Thank god I live only 2 minutes away! I freshen up my makeup, through on an outfit, and out the door I ran. I think to myself, “Wow! I don’t feel nervous like I did for the Rhinegeist observation!” I think I didn’t feel nervous because it’s a familiar environment and I’m going with two people I’m pretty close to. I feel excited and ready to make some observations and ask questions to Komail and a stranger we meet there. So I pull in to the parking lot, and Sam is sitting outside. Komail pulled in right behind me. We walk in and the person at the back of the line seemed like he was alone. We approached him and asked if he would like to join us for dinner? He was surprisingly excited and totally cool about it. So we all went through the line and ordered burrito bowls. We sat outside because

Sam forgot to bring the lock for his bike. It was really windy and chilly but we pushed through it. As we are eating I asked the guys a few questions. Nasser stated he goes to Chipotle on average 2 times a week. He normally gets his food to-go. He stated he really didn’t like the environment because of the music and uncomfortable seating. So if he could change anything it would be the music and seating to a more comfortable arrangement. Komail is a Vegetarian. When he came here from Saudi Arabia he really enjoyed going to Chipotle for the fresh ingredients. It changed his life by helping him switch from Mediterranean food to Mexican food. He loves to go to Chipotle with friends a couple times a week and socialize. He likes how he can always find a familiar face their even if he comes alone since it is right next to the University. He wishes that Chipotle would practice better food handling because the outbreak that happen a few months ago really scared him because his roommate was affected by it. He said if there was one thing he could change about Chipotle is the way the kitchen is designed with the serving and eating area. He says when they are cooking the meat the smell is to overpowering for him to eat in the restaurant.

I really enjoyed this adventure! It was interesting and great to see how different people see the same place. It made me feel really good that I was able to approach someone I didn’t know and sit down and develop a relationship over one dinner. It really opens your eyes to the environment we live in where people always have a phone in their hands and head phones in their ears to just avoid any public contact with anyone. I think it’s really sad that more people don’t get to experience situations like this because they are scared and not sure how to push themselves out of their comfort zones.

How would I change Chipotle to make it a better environment for meeting new people? I honestly find the place just plain uncomfortable to stay at because of the seating. Being a bigger women I find the seating uncomfortable, and that’s the last feeling I want when trying to put myself out there to meet new people. Other than that I believe it would be great to have some kind of games on the tables for people to play like cards or trivia hand held games. It would be extremely nice to have corn hole outside on the patio for customers to enjoy on the nice summer days outside with friends.

Methodology: Conducted experience surveys with friends and strangers at Chipotle Mexican Grill in Highland Heights, KY on April 2, 2016. Documented the experience through photography.

Developed a one page summary of findings of qualitative research.