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Will Charlotte Be Next? Chick-fil-A Trying Out New Concept Drive-Thru And It’s Huge

Author Melany Myers
Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Eating fast food isn’t something I do often, but usually when I do I’m on a road trip or I hit Chick-fil-A. Actually, last night I went through the Chick-fil-A drive-thru on my way home. I get a sandwich for me and some nuggets for the dogs. As a general rule, most Chick-fil-A restaurants, including the drive-thru, run quite efficiently. Now the chain restaurant is bringing a new concept to Atlanta in 2024.

According to FoodBeast, Chick-fil-A is constructing the state’s first 75-car drive-thru. In addition, the company’s Twitter page says the new concept will feature a four-lane drive-thru that’s split into two sets. Two of the lanes will be for mobile orders, and the other two lanes will be traditional drive-thru lanes. Without question, I’m sure this will make the restaurant even more efficient!

The company is also doing something else pretty cool. The new concept will have an elevated building, with the drive-thru lanes under it. Pick-up orders will be available on the second floor of the restaurant. The first floor will house the kitchen and employees will be sending food down to the drive-thru. I’m guessing it’s kind of like when you send your banking stuff in a tube to the teller who’s in the actual bank.

In addition to the new 75-lane concept, Chick-fil-A will be testing a walk-up concept in 2024 in New York City. It’s to encourage customers to do their ordering ahead, then pick up at the walk-up location.

Atlanta is bigger than Charlotte, but our city is growing very quickly. Chick-fil-A locations all over Charlotte and in the surrounding areas are constantly busy, so there’s hope that the restaurant chain will open one of these new concept locations in our area. Where, not sure. Land is being gobbled up so quickly, if we’re in their sights, they need to get on securing a location soon!

These Are America's Top 10 Favorite Chain Restaurants

People love to knock chain restaurants, especially the fast food variety, but we all have our favorites. Call it a “guilty pleasure,” but sometimes you just get an overwhelming urge to pull into a drive-thru and order up a sack full of greasy goodness. Sure, your doctor wouldn’t approve but it’s not like you this every day. Or maybe you do. I’m not here to judge.

So what are your favorite chain restaurants? Money talks, right? The Top 500 Countdown has just come out from Nation’s Restaurant News, revealing the top chain restaurants in the country based on their sales performance last year. They compiled sales figures of the 500 largest restaurant chains in the U.S. for 2022.

Say what you will about the Golden Arches, but they still bring it. McDonald’s was America’s top restaurant chain in 2022 with $48.67 billion in U.S. sales last year. Mickey D’s has been on top for years and doesn’t seem to be going anywhere. Starbucks, its next closest competitor, only did $ 27.5 billion in sales for 2022. Chick-fil-A comes in third with $18.81 billion, Taco Bell is fourth with $12.92 billion, and Wendy’s rounds out the top-five with $11.69 billion in sales.

As for the pizza wars, Domino’s continues to dominate and had $8.57 billion in sales in 2022. It’s also the 10th highest-earning chain overall. Pizza Hut is 13th overall with $5.27 billion in sales, Little Caesars is 16th with $4.72 billion, and Papa John’s is 26th with $3.71 billion.

Top 10 U.S. Chain Restaurants (based on 2022 sales)

  • 10. Domino's

    2022 U.S. Systemwide Sales: $8.57 Billion

    Domino's® Celebrates The Opening of 18,000th Store

    The store front of Domino’s® 18,000th location on July 1, 2021 in La Junta, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images for Dominos)

  • 9. Chipotle

    2022 U.S. Systemwide Sales: $8.63 Billion

    Chipotle storefront

    A customer orders food at a Chipotle restaurant on April 26, 2022 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

  • 8. Subway

    2022 U.S. Systemwide Sales: $9.19 Billion

    Subway Sandwich

    A Subway sandwich is seen on a table at a Subway restaurant on January 12, 2023 in Austin, Texas. (Photo Illustration by Brandon Bell/Getty Images)

  • 7. Burger King

    2022 U.S. Systemwide Sales: $10.28 Billion

    Burger King sign and U.S. flag

    A general view of a Burger King restaurant on September 15, 2022 in Farmingdale, New York. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

  • 6. Dunkin’

    2022 U.S. Systemwide Sales: $11.28 Billion

    Dunkin' sign

    A Dunkin’ Donuts sign hangs on a window September 7, 2006 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Tim Boyle/Getty Images)

  • 5. Wendy’s

    2022 U.S. Systemwide Sales: $11.69 Billion

    Wendy's restaurant

    A view of a Wendy’s restaurant on May 12, 2021 in Pinole, California. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

  • 4. Taco Bell

    2022 U.S. Systemwide Sales: $12.92 Billion

    Taco Bell food

    Taco Bell is continuing to innovate with tastes and flavors less familiar to other regions, while infusing familiarity and authenticity in every item. Photographed during the Taco Bell International Menu Tasting at Taco Bell Headquarters on December 9, 2019 in Irvine, California. (Photo by Rachel Murray/Getty Images for Taco Bell)

  • 3. Chick-fil-A

    2022 U.S. Systemwide Sales: $18.81 Billion

    Chick-fil-A breaded chicken sandwich

    It’s the one that made them famous: a classic breaded chicken sandwich from Chick-fil-A. (Photo by Geno/BBGI)

  • 2. Starbucks

    2022 U.S. Systemwide Sales: $27.5 Billion

    Starbucks cup and bag

    The Starbucks logo is display on a cup and bag at a Starbucks store on October 29, 2021 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

  • 1. McDonald's

    2022 U.S. Systemwide Sales: $48.67 Billion

    McDonald's restaurant

    A sign is posted in front of a McDonald’s restaurant on April 28, 2022 in San Leandro, California. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

 

Melany Myers is a Gastonia native and has spent most of her life here in North Carolina. Mel has worked in radio for over 20 years, many of which she spent co-hosting morning shows in Charlotte, NC, and Columbia, SC. Mel loves 80’s music, going to concerts, cooking, and eating! She is always writing about random news stories that really make you wonder, “what in the world?!” She also writes about rock music and human-interest content.

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