Two giants in the fast-casual dining arena, Shake Shack and Chipotle are decidedly embracing the drive-thru trend with the opening of new locations in Scottsdale. The two brands, each having cultivated a reputation for expedited quality dining, see drive-thru lanes as a key element in their continued expansion plans.
Chipotle, which has been integrating so-called "Chipotlanes" for picking up online orders across the Valley, is positioning its Scottsdale outpost at 8099 E. McDowell Road, set to open doors on April 5. Shake Shack, easily mistaken as a novice having entered the drive-thru scene only last year, plans to unveil their Scottsdale location at 8810 N. 90th Street on April 11, an establishment featuring a double drive-thru, according to a report from the Business Journal.
Historically, Shake Shack and Chipotle have centered their business models around in-house dining experiences, with customers queuing up for their premium fast food offerings. Yet, both chains have been tilting more towards drive-thru services, acknowledging the potent mix of convenience and efficiency it brings to the table for today's fast-moving consumer.
"The days of the big Burger King or McDonald's dining rooms are going away," Carl Schaffer, founder and principal of Ideation Design Group, told the Business Journal, hinting at an industry-wide shift towards more streamlined and dynamic customer service models. The sentiment was echoed in the operational success of Shake Shack's initial drive-thru forays, which have reported margins on par with, if not exceeding, their traditional counterparts, as ABC15 News revealed.
The inclination towards integrating drive-thru facilities comes in the wake of a larger trend – consumers are increasingly drawn to quick and hassle-free options, or, at the other end of the spectrum, seeking out more intimate, high-end dining experiences. With these openings in Scottsdale, Shake Shack, and Chipotle are betting big on the former, catering to the desire for ease without compromising the quality they're known for.
