Barbeque franchise Famous Dave’s, which has 134 restaurants in markets across the country, is opening its first drive-thru model. “Quick ‘Que” will offer both drive-thru and counter service in South Salt Lake, Utah.
Amid casual-dining companies dipping their feet in the QSR pond with drive-thru/restaurant hybrids, Famous Dave’s has fully committed to the quick-service model with this new store, by flipping a former KFC location into a drive-thru experience.
“The Quick ‘Que model was a huge leap forward for us, and almost two years after the arrival of COVID, we’re proud to continue finding new ways to evolve and serve our Famous food in the most convenient manner,” says Jeff Crivello, CEO of BBQ Holdings. “The addition of the drive-thru model is a prime example of that effort.”
Crivello says drive-thru has traditionally performed best in the fast-food space, but as the FSR industry continues to change following the pandemic, the added level of convenience is becoming a necessity across every segment.
This new location will be operated by franchise partners Olympic BBQ, an Ascend Hospitality Group (AHG) company, which operates six other Famous Dave’s locations, two of which are in Utah.
“We are committed to a true QSR experience; we purchased and converted a former KFC location for that reason,” said Elaina Morris, CEO and president of AHG. “The Quick ‘Que drive-thru model is going to allow us to reach more customers while providing them with a faster, more comfortable experience with the quality and flavors they love and expect from Famous Dave’s.”
The Quick ‘Que drive-thru menu is designed for convenience and speed without sacrificing quality, with offerings optimized into express-friendly categories of ‘Que Meals, Sandwiches, Platters, Feasts, and Meats by the Pound. The menu also introduces new items not available at the FSR locations, including the Jalapeno-Cheddar Sausage Hoagie, the Brisket French Dip Sandwich, a?? wider variation of BBQ Bowls, and desserts like Mini Donuts and Peach Cobbler.