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Sweetgreen to open its first location with a pickup drive-thruSweetgreen to open its first location with a pickup drive-thru

The ‘sweetlane’ unit will open in the next year in Schaumburg, Ill.

Holly Petre, Assistant Digital Editor

March 24, 2022

1 Min Read
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Los Angeles-based Sweetgreen announced Wednesday that it will open its first “sweetlane,” a restaurant with a drive-thru pickup lane, in Schaumburg, Ill., within the next year.

“We are always innovating to provide more convenience for our customers, which is why we’re excited about our first sweetlane concept in Schaumburg,” said Sweetgreen co-founder and chief concept officer Nicolas Jammet in a statement. “Digital customers are our most habitual users and we believe this new format will provide us with more options to connect people to real food.”

At this pilot store, customers will place an order through the brand’s digital app or website. In-store pickup and dine-in will be available in addition to drive-thru pickup.

Takeout and dine-in orders may be placed inside the restaurant, while the drive-thru will be pickup only.

During its fourth quarter earnings call, Sweetgreen said that in 2021, 46% of total revenue came from its own digital channels.

“Our goal is to be as ubiquitous as traditional fast food,” CEO Jonathan Neman said at the time.

The sweetlane unit will also have a glass observation window to allow customers to watch their food being prepared from their cars.

The new restaurant will be located at 1320 N. Meacham Road and the opening date and hours of operation have yet to be disclosed.

About the Author

Holly Petre

Assistant Digital Editor

Holly Petre is a digital editor for Nation’s Restaurant News as well as the host of NRN’s podcast, Extra Serving, and producer for Informa Restaurant and Food Group’s other three podcasts, One On One by Food Management, Off the Shelf with SN and In the Kitchen with Bret Thorn. Holly holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts with a concentration in Sculpture, fibers and Material Studies and Ceramics from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. A native New Yorker, Holly enjoys her place on staff as the resident pop-culture expert and millennial with a sassy attitude and great sense of style.

Holly Petre’s work on Nation’s Restaurant News and Restaurant Hospitality often covers marketing and trends, either aimed-at or examined-through the millennial mindset. Holly is responsible for introducing TikTok and Twitch to NRN and RH readers as well as explaining terms like “Karen” to staff and readers alike. She also spends her time on staff trying not to make every headline a pun.

Holly Petre hasn’t spoken at any events or on panels, but she is readily available with a killer shoe wardrobe and several witty quips.

 

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