How Fast-Food Drive-Thrus Became an American Morning Staple
The convenience of ordering a meal without leaving the car has roots in the mid-20th century's love affair with the automobile and the rise of fast-food culture.
For millions of Americans, grabbing breakfast or coffee from a fast-food drive-thru is a daily ritual, but this convenience was once a novelty. Capri Cafaro, creator and host of "America the Bountiful," attributes the rise of the drive-thru, particularly for breakfast, to convenience and an "on-the-go" lifestyle.
The origins of the drive-thru concept are debated. Some credit the West Coast chain In-N-Out Burger with debuting a two-way intercom system in 1948. However, other accounts suggest that Red's Giant Hamburg in Springfield, Missouri, introduced the concept in 1947, predating In-N-Out by a year.
Regardless of the exact pioneer, the drive-thru emerged during a period of significant change in Americans' relationship with their cars. The mid-20th century saw a surge in automobile use, fueled by suburban growth and the expansion of highways like the interstate system and Route 66. As more Americans took to the roads for commutes, road trips, and family outings, it created fertile ground for the growth of fast-food restaurants and their drive-thru services.
Jack in the Box is credited with pioneering fast-food breakfast in 1969 with its Breakfast Jack sandwich. This beat McDonald's introduction of the Egg McMuffin by two years. The Egg McMuffin, invented by franchise owner Herb Peterson, didn't appear on McDonald's menus until 1971.
McDonald's did not adopt the drive-thru concept until 1975, opening its first location in Sierra Vista, Arizona. This was initially to accommodate soldiers who were not permitted to exit their vehicles in uniform off-base. Today, drive-thru sales constitute approximately 70% of McDonald's business.
Starbucks, a major player in the morning coffee market, was also a later adopter, opening its first drive-thru location in 1994. By 2022, two-thirds of Starbucks sales were reportedly occurring through drive-thru channels.
Cafaro notes that the fast-food and drive-thru landscape has evolved significantly over the past 50 to 70 years and is likely to continue changing as long as cars and the demand for convenience persist.