Since the start of the pandemic, a range of different brands have been adding drive-thru lanes, noting elevated demand for the ordering channel.
Now, fast-casual brand Smokey Bones, which has 62 locations across 16 states, announced Tuesday (June 21) that it would open its first drive-thru at a location in Bowling Green, Kentucky, on Wednesday (June 22). The company is also offering its virtual brands at the drive-thru.
Read more: Sweetgreen to Open Drive-Thru Location
“Not only does a drive-thru lane address the way people are dining today with more to go orders, but it makes it faster, easier and more convenient for guests to enjoy Smokey Bones ‘anytime anywhere’ — our vision for Smokey Bones’ off-premise dining,” the brand’s CEO James O’Reilly said in a statement. “We believe drive-thru is a next generation initiative for casual dining and has the potential to redefine what ‘fast casual’ really means.”
Not only have brands been adding drive-thru lanes, but those that have existing drive-thrus have been rethinking their restaurants for today’s digitally shifted restaurant customer, adding mobile order pickup lanes. Most recently, Chick-fil-A announced a trial of mobile order express lanes.
See also: Chick-fil-A Joins in on Efficiency-Boosting Mobile Order Drive-Thru Lane Trend
Research from PYMNTS’ 2022 Restaurant Friction Index, created in collaboration with Paytronix, found that 35% of diners said they would be more inclined to purchase…
