Waffle House is bringing a unique new location to Stone Mountain

Norcross-based Waffle House plans to open a new location on Stone Mountain Highway near its intersection with East Park Place Boulevard. The new Waffle House will open in a former Arby's. The site sits between a McDonald's and a Hardees.

Unlike any other Waffle House anywhere, this Waffle House will have a drive-thru!

The new Waffle House is projected to open mid-to-late April. The approximately 2,200 square foot restaurant already had a drive thru, so Waffle House decided to use it as a test. According to a Waffle House spokesperson, the chain tested out a drive-thru a few years ago in a different location. The spokesperson went on to say that the drive-thru will operate with limited hours (breakfast and lunch) and with a limited menu.

Another former Arby's on Maple Street in Carrollton was demolished last year and rebuilt as a Waffle House, without a drive-thru. The Stone Mountain site was reportedly "in better condition" (despite the fact that it had been vacant longer) and only needed a remodel to achieve the chain's goals for the site.

Waffle House is not the only eatery not previously associated with drive-thru but now offering the service.

In 2013, Panera Bread and Jason's Deli both opened new locations on Barrett Parkway in Kennesaw that feature drive-thru ordering. Panera Bread also opened a drive-thru equipped location near the Mall of Georgia last year.

A drive-thru is a great way to increase sales, but operators must be offering products that are easily made and which offer little room for modification, in order to be as efficient as possible. At least 50% of a typical fast food businesses revenue is derived from its drive-thru. This fact made Krystal's choice to open an inline location in Tucker very strange. The restaurant was situated in the middle of the Best Buy-anchored shopping center near Northlake Mall. Even before it opened, I questioned the feasibility of such a move . Low and behold, just six short months after opening in early 2012, the location closed .

What are your thoughts? Will Waffle House find drive-thru a success or is the "Waffle House experience" lost when one does not actually "experience" the inside? If it's successful, where would you like to see another drive-thru Waffle House open?



