#DriveThroughDay

How Drive-Throughs Changed the Way America Eats

The first drive-through didn't serve burgers. It was a bank. In 1930, the Grand National Bank of St. Louis installed a drive-up window so customers could handle deposits without parking. But it was the fast food industry that turned the concept into something bigger. Red's Giant Hamburg in Springfield, Missouri opened what most consider the first drive-through restaurant in 1947, and the idea spread fast from there.

By the 1970s, drive-throughs accounted for a growing share of fast food revenue. Today, roughly 70% of McDonald's sales come through the drive-through window. That number jumped even higher during the pandemic when indoor dining disappeared overnight. Starbucks now designs entire locations as drive-through-only stores because the demand is that strong.

Beyond Burgers - The Drive-Through Goes Everywhere

Drive-throughs aren't just for food anymore. Pharmacies like CVS and Walgreens have had them for years. Some states offer drive-through liquor stores. There are drive-through wedding chapels in Las Vegas, drive-through funeral viewings in several cities, and even drive-through Christmas light displays that pack parking lots every December. The concept works anywhere people value staying in their car.

The technology behind modern drive-throughs has gotten wild too. AI-powered ordering systems are replacing the crackling speaker boxes at several chains. License plate recognition can pull up your order history before you even speak. Some locations use conveyor belt systems and dedicated kitchens that only serve the drive-through lane, keeping wait times under two minutes.

Making #NationalDriveThroughDay Work on Social Media

This hashtag is a gift for food brands, but anyone can use it well. The simplest approach is a photo of your drive-through order with a quick caption about your go-to spot. These posts do well because everyone has an opinion about their favorite drive-through and they'll share it in the comments.

For businesses with a drive-through, July 24th is a natural promotional day. Offer a small freebie or discount for customers who mention the hashtag. User-generated content from those promotions tends to spread further than anything a marketing team could plan. People love posting about getting free stuff.

Restaurant reviewers and food bloggers can rank their local drive-throughs or do a challenge where they hit multiple spots in one day. That kind of content gets saved and shared because it's useful - people actually want to know which drive-through near them is worth the trip.