While restaurants across America are struggling to survive in this pandemic, Easley’s dining-out scene is continuing to grow: A Chipotle Mexican Grill is in the works.

That’s what’s going to be in half of the new building going up in front of the Town ‘n Country shopping center, according to Easley building official Tommy Holcombe.

What’s going in the other half of the building has yet to be determined.

So let me be among the first to say to Chipotle, welcome to Easley! Next to Southern food, Mexican is my favorite.

It’s clear to me that the company, which operates more than 2,600 restaurants, did its research: Folks around Easley eat out a lot.

During this stretch of time when eateries have been suffering all over the world, I’ve seen long lines of cars at all the fast-food places along Calhoun Memorial Highway in Easley every time I ride by.

The new phenomenon is a roadside truck selling shaved ice called Pinguinos Hermanos. Why people would be willing to sit in a drive-thru line for 20 minutes to get a cup of ice with some syrup in it, I can’t imagine. Ice cream, maybe, but ice? It must be some good stuff, though.

Meanwhile, the chicken wars are in full swing, with the new Popeye’s bringing in droves of spicy-chicken lovers across the street from the new Chick-fil-A, which now is able to line the multitudes up all the way back to somewhere in the vicinity of the ever-popular Taco Bell.

Now, we have some nice Mexican restaurants in town, but nothing like a Chipotle, so I don’t really see the chain as direct competition for Los Amigos and the others. Moe’s would be the closest thing as far as the food, but it’s a completely different style place.

I was actually sorry to see Long John Silver’s leave that spot several years ago where Chipotle is coming in (and sorry to see Captain D’s, which opened up down the street after Long John’s departure, shut down a few months ago. It must be hard to compete with Silver Bay.).

But I’m glad to see a new restaurant coming to that location, which is part of a massive transformation of an old shopping center.

Four new national chain stores are on their way in, with the demolition of the former JC Penney store and a row of smaller shops between it and the Hobby Lobby. HomeGoods, Five Below, Ross clothing and Ulta Beauty will be taking up occupancy at the center, anchored by Belk and Staples.

The plan is to have them all open in time for the holiday shopping season.

Chipotle, founded in Denver in 1993, is famous for its tacos and Mission-style burritos. It was one of the first of the “fast casual” restaurants that came into being around that time.

I was hoping for an Olive Garden or a Red Lobster there, but a Chipotle is just fine with me.

Now, what’s going to be in the other side of the building? I’ll speculate that it will be another fast casual type restaurant. Maybe a Carrabba’s Italian Grill or a Bonefish Grill?

I’ll just be glad when things get back to normal and we can either eat inside without qualms or get it to-go and not have to worry about all the extra steps to try to prevent any possible coronavirus from the packaging.

(I haven’t figured out a way to get the food from the drive-thru window onto a plate at home without passing along a little potential contamination somewhere along the process. I think it helps to just do the best you can, though. But I have noticed that lately employees at some of the restaurants aren’t wearing masks, and I don’t feel comfortable with that. Anybody who handles my food, I’d be glad for them to wear a mask, coronavirus or not.)

I’m not sure what the formula for success in the restaurant business in Easley is. I’m still surprised that Ruby Tuesday shut down and that Pizza Hut left town.

But I wish the newcomers well. Regardless, the residents of Easley and Pickens County will be the beneficiaries.

There’s plenty of good eatin’ to be done.