Taco Bell Gets a New Design and More Drive-thrus

Coronavirus has impacted many industries and despite many fast food chains remaining open in the U.S., they too have had to implement changes amid the pandemic.

Taco Bell is one of the fast food chains to make changes to its restaurant design that includes two drive-thru lanes, pickup shelves, curbside pickup and more technology in the kitchen.

The company, owned by Yum Brands, unveiled the new restaurant design this week. “We have a lot of franchisees interested in expanding drive-thru capacity,” Taco Bell Global Chief Operating Officer Mike Grams said.

The new “Go Mobile” design also features parking spots designated for contactless curbside pickup and indoor shelves for claiming digital orders. The size of Taco Bell’s dining rooms will vary in size depending on the market.

The restaurant’s kitchens will be revamped with technology that tells workers the fastest way to make the order and communicates to the customer the easiest way to pick up the food.

“The customer still has control, but we help them,” said Grams. He said Taco Bell is planning how to retrofit existing restaurants into the new design and working with franchisees on building their own versions.

“Anywhere where you have cars, vehicles, delivery access — these restaurants will play both the suburban and city environment,” Grams said.

The chain will incorporate the Go Mobile design at traditional Taco Bell locations, as well as its smaller urban restaurants and more upscale Cantinas.

The changes are being made in an effort to push customers to order food ahead and keep drive-thru lines shorter. Two company-owned locations with the new design are expected to open in the first three months of 2021.

Disclaimer: We have no position in Yum! Brands, Inc. (NYSE: YUM) and have not been compensated for this article.