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Chick-fil-A opening first mobile pickup restaurant with no seating or order counters
Chick-fil-A is opening a mobile pickup restaurant in New York City this month, with no seating or order counters.
The first-of-its-kind restaurant will open its doors on Thursday, March 21, and is likely to be the future of fast food.�
Chick-fil-A’s new mobile pickup restaurant
“This new restaurant is one of two innovative, digital-focused test concepts the restaurant company is opening,” Chick-fil-A said in a press release. “79th & 2nd will cater to busy New Yorkers by focusing solely on delivery and mobile app ordering for a quick and easy pickup experience.”
The restaurant has no tables, chairs or order counters, just a small area to pick up your food. Customers must order ahead for pickup via the Chick-fil-A app or online. Then, the restaurant will be alerted when guests are on their way by geofencing.
Chick-fil-A introduced geofencing last year, a technology which uses your location to help the restaurant prioritize orders, have time to prepare your meal and reduce your wait time when you come to collect your food.
Each order will be made just on time for the guest’s arrival, and there will be status boards inside the restaurant showing when the order is ready. Customers can also order delivery from the new 79th & 2nd store.
The digital concept, which was first announced in July 2023, is uniquely designed to “serve on-the-go New Yorkers,” allowing guests to conveniently order and quickly pick up “while still providing warm hospitality and care every step of the way”.
Nathaniel Cates, Sr. Principal Design Lead for Chick-fil-A Inc said the chain is “always looking for ways to innovate and enhance the Guest experience” and strives to “meet the changing needs of our customers without compromising the signature service and care theyve grown to know and love”.
New drive-thru concept is coming
The mobile pickup location is one of two innovative new restaurants Chick-fil-A is launching. Later this year, a brand new drive-thru concept is also set to open in Atlanta’s metro area which is wholly based around picking up food in your vehicle.
It’s not going to have a restaurant at all, with the kitchen being built above the drive-thru lanes to quickly deliver orders to the customer with “greater ease and efficient service” while still providing guests with friendly and warm hospitality.
Customers will be able to order online and use one of the dedicated “Mobile Thru” lanes to pick up their order. However, there will also be an option to place your order on the spot with a Team Member, like a normal drive-thru.
“Mobile Thru” is already available at some restaurants across the US. All you have to do is choose a restaurant location in the Chick-fil-A App and, if available, select “Mobile Thru” as the pickup destination. Then, place your order.
When you get to the restaurant, follow signs to enter the specific “Mobile Thru” lane, scan a QR code in the app to check-in your order and then drive around to collect your meal from a Chick-fil-A Team Member.�
