Seattle’s Best Coffee, part of Starbucks Corp. opened a drive-thru window in Northlake, Ill. Designed to meet the needs of the more than 36,000 commuters in the suburban Chicago neighborhood, the concept boasts never-before-seen coffee beverages, freshly-baked food items and other car-friendly sandwiches and snacks.
“Our customers are constantly on-the-go and they tell us that finding great coffee options that fit their busy lifestyles is tough. They’re sacrificing great tasting coffee and food for speed and convenience, and we can put an end to that,” said Jim McDermet, senior vice president and general manager of Seattle’s Best Coffee in a prepared statement. “We’ve designed all elements of this concept with a focus on world-class drive-thru service and because of our history as a coffeehouse brand we can also guarantee the highest-quality coffee and food with a smile.”
An easy-to-navigate menu board design and straightforward pricing let drivers clearly see the quality and value the brand is delivering. Coffee drinkers can meet their basic coffee needs with a choice of Original or Dark and they can stir things up with flavored creamers allowing them to have their coffee exactly the way they like it, at no extra cost. Featured in the center of the menu board are the brand’s new signature beverages like Caramel Candy and Birthday Cake lattes, and Caramel Pretzel and S’mores mochas.
“In this location we’re debuting our revamped coffee and food menu based on what customers have told us is important,” McDermet explained. “And we’re excited to welcome the discerning taste buds of Chicagoans to our fast, friendly and delicious drive-thru experience.”
The entire food menu is designed to deliver car-friendly options for any time of the day. For the first time, the brand will offer fresh-baked muffins, cookies and multigrain bars. Breakfast sandwiches are available on either a biscuit or a muffin, and warm pretzel bread stuffed with a choice of either turkey or ham round out hearty lunch options. Snack items include Sour Cream Coffee Cake, individual Caramel Apple Pies and a Cheese Pretzel Danish.
This new coffee drive-thru concept will serve as a learning lab for the brand as it evolves its retail presence to meet the growing demand for premium coffee on-the-go. Real-time results from this store will inform menu strategies for the current base of nearly 100 cafes as well as future locations.
