Operations

Sweetgreen driving business at the drive-thru

Provided

November 14, 2022

Los Angeles-based Sweetgreen is opening its first advanced-order vehicle pickup window. Dubbed "Sweetlane," and based in Schaumburg, Illinois, the restaurant will open Wednesday in hopes of providing an effortless customer experience, said CEO Jonathan Neman.

"Innovation is in the sweetgreen DNA, and meeting customers where they are is the key to our brand mission; connecting people to real food," Neman said in a company press release. "We hope this new experience provides ease and accessibility for the community craving deliciously fresh and healthy plant-forward food."

Customers place orders through the website or app and choose "Sweetlane" as the desired retrieval method under "Select a Pickup Location." When the order is ready, the guest may drive through the Sweetlane to pick up their meal. As they wait, they can watch team members preparing orders through a round observation window.

Sweetgreen is hoping to have more locations in the Midwest and not only populating more suburban communities. It's meeting the need for convenient, healthier options at scale, Neman said. According to internal research findings, 52% of existing suburban customers find it challenging to locate fresh, quality food to order on-the-go.

The freestanding building features unique design elements on all sides, including a continuous green dip around the building, a large-scale mural by local Chicago artist Cody Hudson and architectural awning details, according to the release.