Modern Market Eatery Unveils Its First Drive-Thru Restaurant, Eyeing a New Era for Franchise Growth

Modern Market Eatery, the 31-unit fast casual franchise under the umbrella of Modern Restaurant Concepts, has taken a significant leap forward with the opening of its first drive-thru restaurant in Colorado Springs. This groundbreaking venture marks a new chapter in the Modern Market expansion and highlights its innovative approach to meeting the evolving demands of the restaurant industry and its patrons.

"This is the very first drive-thru for Modern Market, which is very exciting,” said David Medley, director of construction and facilities at Modern Market. “It is in a great location and it is in a test market that we are hoping will give us some great visibility. Operationally and culinarily, we put out a great product and our recipes are amazing. We are a different kind of fast-casual, and now we are offering that in a drive-thru format.”

Located within the bustling First & Main Town Center in Colorado Springs, the company-owned drive-thru establishment is poised to redefine the fast-casual dining experience in the city. Additionally, It represents a strategic move by Modern Market to diversify its real estate portfolio, thereby attracting new franchisees keen on tapping into the burgeoning market for convenient, health-conscious dining options.

Behind the scenes, Medley says this initiative has been in the works for a while, with the team working hard to ensure the Modern Market concept could thrive in a drive-thru environment. In addition to leveraging the brand’s typical double-sided single production line, which allows staff to efficiently and quickly prepare orders thanks to a highly choreographed integration of kitchen processes, the team has also made significant technological enhancements to its operations. 

"We changed some of our pizza oven technology, for example, so we can prepare and cook a great pizza in just a minute-and-a-half," Medley said. “We were using, huge rotating ovens, and they would burn gas all day long. The introduction of Turbo-Chef Fire ovens has been a game-changer. These ovens not only improve energy efficiency but also ensure that the drive-thru service can maintain the high culinary standards that Modern Market is known for.”

Most jobs at a Modern Market can be performed by hourly employees immediately after training.

In addition to drive-thru service, the Colorado Springs location continues to offer delivery and dine-in options, accommodating 84 customers inside and on its patio. It also features "The Mini Market," a merchandise area offering locally made products and Modern Market Eatery branded items, further enhancing the customer experience and providing a very local tie-in..

Overall, the opening of the Colorado Springs drive-thru restaurant is part of Modern Market Eatery's broader strategy to reimagine fast casual food by offering scratch-cooking at quick-service restaurant speed. 

"Opening our first drive-thru restaurant is just one of the many ways our team is working to reimagine fast food and show guests how healthy food can be a quick, convenient option for the entire family," said Rob McColgan, co-founder and president of Modern Market Eatery. “This will be the first of many drive-thru locations we anticipate developing over the coming years to provide an even more efficient service model to handle the increasing volume of take-out orders.”

As Modern Market Eatery forges ahead, its commitment to sourcing high-quality ingredients free from artificial additives and its expansive menu of scratch-prepared dishes remain at the core of its identity. The brand's innovative approach to fast-casual dining, exemplified by the new drive-thru restaurant, sets a promising course for its future growth and the success of its franchisees.

Looking ahead, Modern Market’s plans are ambitious yet strategic, focusing on partnering with experienced operators in diverse markets. This year, the team plans to open between 7 and 10 new restaurants. 

For more information, visit: https://1851franchise.com/modern-market-eatery.