Restaurant Development + Design: A&W on Post-Pandemic Restaurant Site Selection

In a recent interview with Restaurant Development + Design Magazine, John Palumbo, A&W’s senior director of franchise development, discusses how the brand’s site selection strategy focuses sharply on both dine-in and drive-thru. A&W, the 102-year-old iconic American brand with 500-plus-units, is exclusively developing freestanding units, which include both new builds and conversions that will accommodate both dine-ins and drive-thrus.

“Our dining room is still very important to our brand experience. Others are shrinking their footprints and doing away with dining rooms, but we’re not. We still need around an acre of land and a 2,100-square-foot building,” said Palumbo. “Everyone wants a drive-thru right now. Ultimately, we’ll be patient when it comes to real estate and stay focused on providing the type of experience our guests want, whether dine-in, drive-thru or takeout.”

In 2020, A&W saw its ninth year of consecutive growth with comp sales increasing 9% overall. A&W was recently ranked fourth on QSR Magazine’s Top 42 Emerging Fast-Food Brands to Watch in 2021.