Applebee’s — whose takeout orders grew exponentially during the pandemic and now account for more than a quarter of its sales — said it plans to expand testing of drive-thru windows.
“We think there’s a really strong argument for it,” president of the brand, John Cywinski, told CNN. “We will scale it, should the business case be clear. My instinct says yes, there’s a genuine need.”
Cynwinski believes there will be 15 drive-thrus by the end of 2022, according to the report. The company currently operates 1,578 locations.
Known for its decorative dining rooms, with large booths and bars and kitschy wall hangings, Applebee’s introduced its first two drive-thrus in Texarkana, Texas, and Monroe, La. late last year.
A decade ago, no one would have considered Applebee’s for a to-go meal, Cynwinski said at an investor day in March.
“If you didn’t have 1.5 hours to dine-in and you were on the go… you’re probably thinking about McDonald’s Wendy’s and Burger King and maybe a burger, fries and a Pepsi through a drive-thru window,” he told investors. “We are competing directly with” fast food restaurants, he added.
It’s not the first time the chain has tried to rip a page from the fast food playbook. A few years ago it tested an app that allowed diners to order ahead and have their meal ready when they arrived at the restaurant, as The Post reported.
For now, an Applebee’s drive-thru requires diners to order ahead via the app or online. There are no menu boards outside the restaurants.
The casual restaurant chain owned by Dine Brands has struggled in recent years, but comparable sales increased by 6.2% compared to 2019.
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