A national fast-casual Mexican chain is coming to Bellevue, moving into the spot formerly occupied by a locally-owned bar with decades of history and a loyal following that didn’t quietly accept its loss.
Chipotle Mexican Grill, a California-based fast casual Mexican restaurant, has become a staple since its founding in 1993. In 2025 alone, the chain ranked No. 5 on USA TODAY’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards for Best Restaurant for Quick, Healthy Food and Best Fast Casual Restaurants.
The incoming Bellevue location is going up in the spot where the historic Fill Inn bar once stood at 52 Donnermeyer Drive. The bar permanently closed in late 2025.
New Chipotle to sit on land with storied Bellevue history
The Fill Inn, formerly known as Miller’s Fill Inn, had a long and storied history. The first bar located inside the building was Jim’s Fill. When Lois Miller took over in the 1990s, she added her last name to the moniker. Miller purchased the building in 1998 for $276,000.
Miller served the Bellevue community for nearly 30 years before deciding it was time to retire in May 2023. According to the Campbell County Property Valuation Administrator website, Miller sold the building to Hickory Wald Kentucky LLC for $420,000. The location reopened to the public under new ownership as The Fill Inn on June 8, 2023.
The ownership group, which operates several bars throughout the Greater Cincinnati region, sold the building in September 2025. The bar was then demolished by Oct. 7. The Enquirer reached out to the group to ask about Chipotle taking over the lot but did not receive a response before publication.
Chipotle news upset Bellevue residents
Many Bellevue residents and former Fill Inn patrons were upset with the news of the incoming Chipotle.
“So many memories in these walls. They were supposed to remain open through the end of the year…but nope…they are closing TODAY…pre-football season, so no more Bengals game gatherings…with the best of the best friends and fans,” one Facebook user wrote on Aug. 31, 2025. “Cheers to the Fill Inn and all the people who made memories, had fun, and supported each other through good times and bad. They can take the building but they can’t take that!”
When does the Bellevue Chipotle officially open?
Bellevue’s first Chipotle location opens Thursday, May 21, the chain’s communication analyst, Mohit Patel, confirmed to The Enquirer.
The restaurant will be open daily from 10:45 a.m. to 10 p.m.
The new location is expected to bring about 30 jobs to the area, Patel said.
Are there more Chipotle locations in Northern Kentucky?
With the addition of the Bellevue location, Chipotle will officially have four locations near Newport, although there are several throughout Northern Kentucky.
Here’s where you can satisfy your Chipotle needs:
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Chipotle replaces former beloved Fill Inn bar in Bellevue | Going Up
Reporting by Kaycee Sloan, Cincinnati Enquirer / Cincinnati Enquirer
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
