Technology

Capt D's debuts double drive-thru

April 20, 2021

A year after a fire destroyed it, Captain D's in Tupelo, Mississippi, has reopened with an upgraded design featuring the brand's first double driver-thru.

"We're thrilled to reopen our Tupelo location with a new double drive-thru feature that will enhance our guests' experience and better cater to their off-premises dining preferences," Brad Reed, chief development officer, said in a company press release. "While the dining room will be open for seating, we wanted our guests to have the option of a contactless dining experience, which is why we decided to incorporate the double drive-thru model. We're looking forward to serving the Tupelo community once again."

The double drive-thru is just one of many ways Captain D's continues to change operations models in order to meet its customers' needs. Last year, for example, the company unveiled a prototype design called Express, boasting a significantly smaller footprint from its traditional models, featuring only a drive-thru and walk-up windows for ordering and picking up. Pre-COVID-19, 70% of the brand's sales were generated by off-premises dining and, with those numbers holding strong throughout the pandemic, Captain D's saw an opportunity to incorporate its adaptative real estate strategies to the remodel of its Tupelo restaurant, Reed said.

"The demand for off-premises dining is still dominant even as some states begin to lift COVID-19 restrictions," he said. "With that, we seized the opportunity with the remodel of our Tupelo restaurant to integrate a design feature that's new to our brand that would not only offer our guests convenience but also bring back a place for the community to come together and enjoy all their seafood favorites."

Headquartered in Nashville, Captain D's has more than 540 restaurants in 23 states.