Wendy's has been updating the look and design of their restaurants since last year, but now a new layout will shrink the footprint and add efficiency to the fast food spot.
Wendy's new store layouts are smaller and orient the business toward its drive-thrus. "Having a smaller footprint is a fairly new trend in quick-service restaurants, considering about 70% of the segment’s traffic comes from the drive-thru, surprisingly so," Alicia Kelso writes for Forbes. This emphasis on drive-thrus is taking place even as some urbanists look to limit drive-thrus, which can be hazards to pedestrians, and discourage walking.
Besides the smaller format, the buildings are also more environmentally friendly. "The Smart design prototype features recycled materials and LED lighting, as well as Energy Star equipment, including high efficiency HVAC systems, which yield a 20% reduction in costs," Kelso reports.
Wendy's argues that their stores’ new designs are more attractive and take in more revenue than restaurants that have yet to update their layout.
FULL STORY: Wendy's Smart Design Restaurants Reflect Trend Toward Smaller Footprints
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Journal of the American Planning Association