Chick-fil-A consistently ranks as one of the best fast food chains in the U.S., and its latest innovation will take meeting customers where they are to a whole new level—literally.
On Aug. 22, the iconic institution opened its first-ever elevated drive-thru restaurant. Located in the Atlanta suburb of Stockbridge, the drive-thru-only location is available only to vehicles, so forget stopping in on foot. The drive-thru-only restaurant concept isn't new, as Chick-fil-A opened its first in 1993, but the first-of-its-kind design is new territory for the famed chicken joint. It was done, the company said, to better serve customers on the go.
"Our guests lead busy lives, and we’re focused on designing our restaurants to best serve their needs," Chick-fil-A executive director of design Jonathan Reed said in a statement. "With the new Elevated Drive-Thru design, featuring our first four-lane drive-thru, we're aiming to deliver quality food and genuine hospitality in a way that’s uniquely Chick-fil-A, and gives our guests time back in their day."
Drivers will stay on the ground throughout the experience while workers in the larger-than-normal elevated kitchen prepare their meals. Once the food is ready, it travels through "a unique meal transport system" that allows for employees to receive a ready meal every six seconds.
Brett Lewis, the owner and operator of the new location, is looking forward to going back to his hometown.
"I’ve been fortunate to work with Chick-fil-A for a long time. I am excited to move back to Stockbridge and honored to open this new concept, which happens to be four miles away from my childhood home," Lewis said. "As a local business owner, I look forward to learning how to best serve the community I grew up in and working alongside my team members as we create a one-of-a-kind drive-thru experience for our guests."
It's not the first restaurant to implement this design, however. Back in 2022, Taco Bell opened a drive-thru-only location in Minnesota that similarly featured an elevated kitchen.
If you're in the area and have a car, give the unique experience a try.
