2 empty sites on one Riverside street becoming new restaurants

RIVERSIDE - Two empty Riverside buildings are getting new life with Chipotle Mexican Grill and Christopher’s Restaurant and Catering coming to the area.

The two buildings are close in proximity, with Christopher’s Restaurant and Catering opening soon at 4211 Linden Ave. and Chipotle Mexican Grill coming just down the road at 4215 Linden Ave.

Christopher’s is moving into a space formerly occupied by a Pizza Hut. A planned Chipotle will be located at the site of a former car wash. Both businesses will adapt or add on to the existing structures.

Dave Krites, who owns the The Catering House by Christopher’s with his wife, Erika, said in a post that the new space is the perfect spot for their catering kitchen and to host private parties, but they know it can be more than that.

Christopher’s Restaurant and Catering said in a recent Facebook post. “Our team has been working hard to make the space feel like our own - new kitchen that was approved by the health department, an updated dining room, and a fresh new look on the outside (still a work in progress).”

Christopher’s Restaurant and Catering will be the first to open. The doors to their new location will open this week during a soft opening period.

“The soft opening will be a smaller, trial-run before beginning our normal weekly service,” the post said. “We will begin Christopher’s Restaurant-style service there with pared down menus of your Christopher’s favorites and some new creations from the chef.”

The Catering House will have Prime Rib and Chef’s Features Night on Thursday at 6:30 p.m. and Sunday Brunch on Sunday at 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.

Christopher’s Restaurant and Catering, previously located at 2318 E. Dorothy Lane in Kettering, closed its doors on June 15 after being “unable to reach mutually agreeable terms” to renew their lease.

As the owners looked for a new location, they focused on continuing to grow their catering business and new event center, The Gem by Christopher’s, located at 3425 Valley Street in Riverside.

Credit: CONTRIBUTED

Credit: CONTRIBUTED

The Chipotle Mexican Grill is still in its beginning phases. Riverside’s planning commission recently approved a site plan for the restaurant.

Chipotle has more than a dozen restaurants in the Dayton area, including sites in Beavercreek, Huber Heights, Kettering and Springboro. No date for the opening of the Riverside location has been announced.