Operations

Shake Shack making drive-thru debut in Minnesota

Shake Shack has provided a rendering of its first drive-thru location. Provided

November 30, 2021

Shake Shack is opening its first drive-thru location Monday in Maple Grove, Minnesota.

The Shack, located at 12351 Elm Creek Boulevard N., is part of the Shoppes at Arbor Lakes, a lifestyle center located at the epicenter of the Maple Grove retail trade area. The store joins two other Shacks in the Minneapolis area but is the chain's first location equipped with a drive-thru.

It features a split kitchen design with a separate kitchen for drive-thru guests as well as a digital menu board, a two-lane ordering system, contactless payment and a separate pick-up window for ease of convenience, CDO Andrew McCaughan said in a company press release.

"I'm so proud of all the teams at Shake Shack that worked tirelessly to bring this new experience for our company and guests to life," he said. "We look forward to bringing this new Shack format to our guests, pairing our classic community gathering experience with the ability to enjoy our premium menu conveniently within the comfort of their own cars."

CEO Randy Garutti said the store was a huge step forward for the brand.

"We've been envisioning drive-thru for some time now and have been working diligently to make the experience uniquely Shake Shack," he said in the release. "We're bringing our guests an even greater quality, craft, care and experience while adding a new level of convenience.

"We'll be learning a lot from this location and will continue to optimize and adapt as we roll out more of these formats next year."

The chain is targeting up to 10 drive-thrus across markets in 2022 and will open 45 to 50 locations. Over half will be in suburban markets, principally being the freestanding and shopping center locations with enhanced convenience options such as drive-thru and drive-up, Garutti said.

Shake Shack has over 350 locations.