Dog Haus' Updated Prototype Includes Drive-Thru

Dog Haus is introducing a new prototype, one that strikes a balance between off-premises and dine-in experience.

To fulfill increased off-premise sales while ensuring a convenient guest experience, exterior features will include a designated pick-up area for mobile orders and third-party deliveries, as well as an integrated drive-thru.

Dog Haus' move to include a drive-thru comes as drive-thru visits have increased 36% since the early days of the pandemic with 9 out of 10 visiting in May 2021, according to the State of What Feeds Us report.

Drive-thrus, according to market research firm The NPD Group, are the key to the industry's future. Consumer demand for drive-thru has spurred brands to revisit their store development plans, adding drive-thrus and contactless pickup options to their new designs. A&W Restaurants' growth plan prioritizes drive-thru. Based on strong performance of its Chipotlanes, Chipotle has said more than half of its stores in development will have a digital drive-thru. Not to be outdone, Noodles and Company is rolling out drive-thrus for digital order pickup. The grandest plan to date comes from a Taco Bell franchisee that is planning a new location in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, with four drive-thru lanes.

For guests dining on site, the new design includes a patio anchored by a floor-to-ceiling fireplace. To bring this new design to life, Dog Haus partnered with Dallas-based, global design consultant firm Harrison.

Harrison is creating building plans and schematic designs that cover every detail of the prototype. In keeping with Dog Haus’ current contemporary aesthetic of a modern industrial space, Harrison’s interior design will have a post-modern look and feel with new décor, materials and textures.

“We’ve been looking into developing a new prototype with a drive-thru design, and after meeting the Harrison team, we knew this was the firm that could help us reimagine how Dog Haus serves its guests,” said Dog Haus Partner Quasim Riaz. “We’ve been impressed with the ways they’ve pushed the boundaries while staying true to our brand’s design integrity.”

Harrison Design Director Sarah Jenkinson said, “Our interior and exterior design elements that focus on all guest touchpoints is truly one-of-a-kind, and we’re thrilled that Dog Haus recognized this and selected us to create their drive-thru prototype. The striking design our team mocked up in a 3D walkthrough delivers on all facets of a fast-casual brand post-Covid. This is the next generation of design in the restaurant space. Our team can’t wait to assist Dog Haus as they begin to change the way guests experience their brand.”