In wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the importance of quick service restaurants having drive-thrus soared in 2020. While many dine-in services remain closed or limited capacity, research shows that drive-thru windows are not only here to stay, they are rapidly growing. Restaurants are starting to see the benefits and results of elevating the ordering experience. Many Chick-fil-A locations revamped their hospitality service design by investing in dual-lane drive-thrus to handle the large capacity of customers. A new and evolving alternative is the pick-up lane or walk-up window option. 

Starbucks has introduced a drive-thru-only model that incorporates a special walk-up window for customers ordering through the Starbucks app. Restaurants like Chipotle and Wingstop, who have historically been sit-down, are now introducing pick-up windows for customers to grab their food and go. Several restaurants incapable of accommodating the new trend are actively seeking fresh locations that will allow them to offer customers a seamless drive-thru or pick-up experience. 

In the last year, Goodman Real Estate Services LLC has completed 36 drive thru deals with clients such as Starbucks, Chipotle, Chick-fil-A, Dairy Queen, Slim Chickens, and Panda Express. It is estimated that 55 more transactions are to come in 2021. As quick-service experiences change over time, one thing is certain: every client of Goodman Real Estate Services LLC wants to provide the best possible experience for their customers.