Fast Food Redesign Due to Pandemic

A number of the major fast food restaurants are coming out with new store designs, emphasizing drive-through and take out, and in some cases eliminating the dining option entirely. Burger King has two new concepts, one with three drive-through lanes, one dedicated to delivery drivers, and a parking lot where customers can order through their app and have the food delivered to their car. Chipotle is getting rid of dining rooms in some of their new locations, allowing them to take less space in more expensive locales. Customers order ahead through an app and their order is waiting on a shelf, getting rid of the assembly line where you picked your ingredients.Some KFC’s of the future may not have a dining room.  McDonalds will offer automated order taking, express pickup for digital orders and in some cases an elimination of the dining room. Taco Bell may roll out bellhops that take the customer orders on tablets, and contactless curbside pick-up.  Although in a pandemic I can see why it may be safer to eat in ones car, long term it still feels good to get out, sit inside a fast food, and stretch your legs while grabbing a quick bite. I hope they don’t get rid of too many dining rooms!