Madeline Stone / Business Insider
Sweetgreen is opening its first “Sweetlane” drive-thru in Illinois.
The Sweetlane is similar to Chipotle’s Chipotlane, which adapted a drive-thru for fast casual use.
Sweetgreen customers will order salads online and pick them up at a window from their cars.
Salad chain Sweetgreen is opening a new version of its drive-thru, called a “Sweetlane,” in Illinois on November 15.
Sweetgreen
Customers can pick up customized Sweetgreen salads at the drive-thru window, just like they would at any fast food chain.
Sweetgreen
Unlike a standard fast food location, customers must place orders online through Sweetgreen’s website or app.
Sweetgreen
Then, they can choose to pick it up inside, or at the drive-thru.
Sweetgreen
Because of the customized nature of Sweetgreen, there is no option to order at a speaker in the drive-thru itself.
Sweetgreen
But, Sweetgreen added a window to the drive-thru so waiting customers can watch their meals be made, replicating the in-store experience.
Sweetgreen
The location will also have dine-in and to-go ordering.
Sweetgreen
Sweetgreen’s design looks very similar to Chipotle’s “Chipotlane” concept, even down to the names.Chipotlane.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
Both chains grew with a “create your own” concept with an emphasis on fresh ingredients.
Dixie D. Vereen/For The Washington Post via Getty Images
Sweetgreen, like Chipotle, tweaked the typical model of a drive-thru by requiring customers to order ahead, rather than while in line.
Chipotle
They both came up with names that evoke the idea of a drive-thru without actually using that term, which is more associated with fast food chains rather than fast casual.Chipotlane.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
Chipotlanes have been a huge success for Chipotle, with higher margins and more sales than traditional models.Chipotlane.
Mary Meisenzahl/Insider
Source: Insider
The same could prove true for Sweetgreen.
Madeline Stone / Business Insider
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