Chipotle-owned Pizzeria Locale, a build-your-own pizza chain, to close sites in Denver

Chipotle Mexican Grill plans to close a chain of build-your-own pizza restaurants a decade after the fast-food company invested in its first Pizzeria Locale in the Denver metro area.

The five Pizzeria Locale locations will officially shut their doors Monday and its employees will have the option to work instead at area Chipotle locations, Laurie Schalow, Chipotle chief corporate affairs officer, said in a statement to Paste BN. The statement did not address Paste BN's request to explain the reasoning behind the decision.

“We have made the decision to close all five Pizzeria Locale restaurants on July 10 and dissolve the business," the statement read. "Impacted employees have been extended employment opportunities at Chipotle restaurants in the Denver area.”

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Pizzeria Locale history

Chipotle first invested in Pizzeria Locale in 2013 in a deal with a local restaurant group that had opened a sit-down restaurant in Boulder two years prior. The agreement allowed the original owners to continue operating the business, according to previous reporting from Paste BN.

The Mexican chain then continued to expand, eventually opening five Pizzeria Locale locations across Denver.

The concept was similar to that of Chipotle, allowing customers to order their food at the counter and customize it by selecting among a variety of available toppings. After ordering, the pizzas cooked in an oven for less than two minutes before they were served.

As of Thursday morning, the company's website was under construction and its Instagram account had been deleted.

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Eric Lagatta covers breaking and trending news for Paste BN. Reach him at elagatta@gannett.com and follow him on Twitter @EricLagatta.