Chick-fil-A opening 2-story drive-thru with elevated kitchen

[JACK AYLMER]

CHICK-FIL-A IS LOOKING TO ELEVATE ITS BUSINESS MODEL – BY ELEVATING ITS KITCHEN. LITERALLY.

ON THURSDAY — THE FAST FOOD CHAIN IS OPENING ITS FIRST-EVER ELEVATED DRIVE-THRU-ONLY RESTAURANT JUST OUTSIDE ATLANTA.

THE LOCATION WILL FEATURE FOUR DRIVE-THRU LANES WITH THE CAPACITY TO SUPPORT UP TO 75 CARS ALL UNDER A SECOND-FLOOR KITCHEN.

— WHICH IS TWICE THE SIZE OF A TYPICAL CHICK-FIL-A KITCHEN.

IT FEATURES A CONVEYOR BELT THAT SENDS THE FOOD FROM ABOVE TO A CHICK-FIL-A EMPLOYEE ON THE GROUND BELOW. CHICK-FIL-A SAYS THIS SYSTEM ALLOWS FOR A MEAL TO BE DELIVERED TO A TEAM MEMBER EVERY SIX SECONDS.

CHICK-FIL-A SAYS THEY MAY BUILD MORE ELEVATED DRIVE-THRUS IN THE FUTURE – BUT THEY ARE NOT THE ONLY “THINKING UP” THESE CONCEPTS.

IN 2022 — TACO BELL OPENED ITS FIRST TWO-STORY DRIVE-THRU-ONLY RESTAURANT IN BROOKLYN PARK, MINNESOTA. CALLED “TACO BELL DEFY” – THE RESTAURANT HAS FOUR DRIVE-THRU LANES, AN ELEVATED KITCHEN, AND NO DINING ROOM – JUST LIKE CHICK-FIL-A’S LOCATION.

SO WHAT IS “UP” WITH THESE TWO-STORY DRIVE-THRUS AND IS THIS THE END OF THE FAST FOOD DINING ROOM AS WE KNOW IT?

CHICK-FIL-A SAYS ITS NEW DRIVE-THRU CONCEPT IS ALL ABOUT PROVIDING GREATER EASE AND EFFICIENT SERVICE FOR ITS CUSTOMERS.

AND AS FOR RESTAURANT DINING AREAS – EXPERTS TELL FOX BUSINESS – THEY ARE NOT LIKELY GOING AWAY ANY TIME SOON – BUT THEY MAY CHANGE – SLIMMING DOWN, TAKING ON NEW LAYOUTS AND BRINGING IN MORE TECHNOLOGY TO RESPOND TO GUESTS DEMANDS.

AND THESE ELEVATED KITCHENS ARE JUST ONE WAY FAST FOOD RESTAURANTS ARE HOPING TO CLIMB ABOVE THEIR COMPETITION.

FIND FOR MORE BUSINESS STORIES AT OUR WEBSITE SAN DOT COM OR ON THE STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS APP.