Scoping out fast foods
March 23rd, 2006 by KenricSo I spent the day driving around taking pictures of fast-food restaurants. Some I would snapshots as I quickly drove by, others I’d drive into the lot. You never realize how these things are designed until you start to look at them in detail. I took pictures of Sonic, Burger King, Jack in the Box and McDonalds. I need to go measure these lots to see how big they are relative to mine. Problem is I can’t just walk around with a tape measure in the parking lot. Tomorrow, I’m going to get one of those laser tape measures, so I can just sit in my car and point the thing to the lot edges (walls).
Speaking of fast food restaurants I really like the style of Chipotle. It’s a little upscale, but it’s not that expensive. They use regular industrial looking everyday electric pipes and sockets and make it look artsy.
My restaurant lot is 85′ X 150′. So I’m trying to figure out what I can fit on it. I’ve come to realize that 85′ is pretty damn small. The current fast-food formula seems to be a small rectangular building in the middle of the lot. Parking on both sides and a drive thru menu behind the building with a pickup window on its left side in the middle.
I think I’ll be building something similar to this but without a drive-thru. I’d like to have indoor and outdoor seating. I need to make some sketches and go see an architect soon.
BTW, I’ve also been testing the competition. I went to a place today which is not too far from the lot, which will rename nameless, but it was horrible. No competition at all.
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Stumble it!
Hello! Thanks for the compliment on my blog “Changing Directions”. Like yourself, I’m an engineer. But you’re about 5 years in front of me. But I’m gaining! I’m glad to read that an REI is venturing out into the business world. This is what I want to start this summer. I want cashflow from other areas, including real estate. Good luck and I’ll be reading!
By Clifford on Mar 23, 2006
Hey, Monarchcrest, I have a suggestion for you. My grandparents have been in the real estate development game for decades now. I spoke with them not long ago about an multi-family development I’m getting ready to undertake. I asked them how to go about finding a decent architect who wouldn’t charge me exorbitant fees. They told me I was crazy for wanting to use an architect! They said I should use a draftsman to draw up my plans. Or, I could even use the Punch software to design the plans myself! I’m no expert, so I can’t guarantee that you’ll be able to get by without an architect. But, I haven’t heard good things about them from ANYONE I’ve talked to.
By Trisha#1 on Mar 24, 2006
Thanks for the information Trisha. I will probably go with an architect due to the complexity of my project. I have a small lot and have to conform with setbacks and parking requirements and at the same time maximize building size and have a good flow throughout. If it were a home, I could probably do some of it myself. But I’ve never designed an industrial kitchen or anything retail, I have no idea where to begin.
By monarchcrest on Mar 29, 2006
If this restaurant is for fast food, why are you dropping the drive thru window?
By Anonymous on Apr 1, 2006
If this is going to be a fast food restaurant, why are you dropping the drive thru window?
By Anonymous on Apr 1, 2006
The reason I’m not doing a drive-thru is because the restaurant is made to order fast food. We don’t cook the burgers until you order them. With a drive-thru, the line would quickly back up and begin to congest the parking lot. I don’t want this to happen. I would rather the customers park and walk into the building to wait in line.
By monarchcrest on Apr 2, 2006