Chick-fil-A is looking to elevate its business model by elevating its kitchen when it opens its first elevated drive-thru-only restaurant on Thursday, Aug. 22, 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 twice the size of a typical Chick-fil-A kitchen.
The restaurant features a conveyor belt that sends the food from above to Chick-fil-A employees on the ground below. Chick-fil-A said this system allows for a meal to be delivered to a team member every six seconds.
Chick-fil-A said it may build more elevated drive-thrus in the future. However, Chick-fil-A is not the only one 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 planned 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 said its new drive-thru concept is all about providing greater ease and efficient service for its customers.
As for restaurant dining areas, experts in the industry told Fox Business they are not likely going away any time soon. However, they may start slimming down, taking on new layouts and bringing in more technology to respond to guests’ demands.
In the meantime, these elevated kitchens are just one way fast-food restaurants are hoping to climb above their competition.
