Chipotle is opening stores with drive-thrus

Chipotlanes are about to become your new best friend. But what exactly are they? Chipotlanes are Chiptole’s latest offering. And despite their delicious-sounding name, no they aren’t a new taco or queso sauce. Nope. Chipotle is bringing its customers even more convenience in the form of drive-thru lanes.

That’s right. You will soon be able to satisfy your craving for a Chipotle burrito bowl without having to leave the comfort of your car. In 2019, Chipotle is going to open several new Chipotles that will feature a drive-thru lane.

If you’re wondering how the heck you can personalize your burrito to your heart’s content while barking through a drive-thru speaker, here’s the thing: These Chipotlanes are not your traditional drive-thru. Rather than pulling up to a speaker and giving your order, you order your meal ahead of time via the Chipotle website or app.

“Customers who order online or via the app can use these lanes to pick up their order without leaving their car,” explains a Chiptole press release. “The drive-up pickup lanes are currently in the test phase, which will be expanded to a few dozen of Chipotle’s 2019 restaurant openings across several markets.”

Not only will this be a good way for you to beat the lunch rush, but it also means you won’t have to get out of the car when the weather is inclement (or when you don’t want to wrangle hungry, grouchy kids in and out of their car seats!).

Several existing Chipotles have tested a drive-thru window with great success, including locations in states like Illinois and Ohio.

In addition to these new drive-thru lanes, Chipotle is also going to roll out in-store pickup shelves. Customers can place their order via their app or website and go straight to the shelves, find their order and purchase it.

Currently, around 1,000 Chipotle stores have in-store pickup shelves. However, by the middle of this year, Chipotle plans for every location to have this feature.

Do these new features make you more likely to splurge on that burrito bowl?