2009.06.24
New ice cream drive-through
A local ice cream parlor is getting into the drive-through business.
Bratcher's Ice Cream Parlor in Roanoke now is selling its ice cream in a standalone drive-through building near its storefront on Orange Avenue. Bratcher's Drive-Through opened on Monday. This building used to house Java the Hutt, a coffee retailer.
Most fast-food oriented businesses have drive-throughs. But I've noticed that other kinds of restaurant retailers are opening them, too. Several of these retailers, such as Starbucks, often won't open a new location unless it has drive-through access.
Several local restaurants operators have told me that drive-throughs are imperative nowadays for drawing significant sales.
Martin Bratcher, owner of Bratcher's, said the new drive-through will help his business in particular on rainy days, when people may not want to venture into the ice cream shop, which sells Hershey's ice cream and other ice cream treats. Bratcher's also sells some food, including hot dogs and hamburgers.
You can read more about Bratcher's Drive-Through and local ice cream retailer's sales so far this season in my story in today's newspaper.
It continues to amaze me in this convenience oriented society how folks will remain within their cars, waiting in line for whatever.
The fact remains that idling your car for over 30 seconds is more costly than shutting the engine off and restarting it. Most of the time I see these folks with their automatic transmission car sitting and waiting with car in drive & foot on brake. All the wear & tear plus fuel consumption!!!
Some time back I observed cars waiting for the car wash @ Williamson & Plantation roads, foot on brake, without moving an inch, for over 20 minutes! Wow!
So for all our convenience drive throughs', how much waste and pollution is acceptable???
P.S. Bratchers does a wonderful job in their business, quality product, fair price, and consistent service.
Comment by Steve — June 24, 2009 @ 12:14 pm
I still love the Brew-Thru, the drive-through beer store on the Outer Banks. They had probably the most unique concept for a drive-through business.
Comment by Other John — June 24, 2009 @ 1:15 pm
If you think drive through beer store is new and inventive, go to Ohio. They have them all over the place.
Comment by Liz — June 24, 2009 @ 4:12 pm
I don't like drive through. Most of the time the order is wrong.Also it is slow, I always walk-in even for to go at any fast food place. I have noticed I can go in, get my order, and be out while a car waiting in line when I went in is still waiting in line when I come out.
Comment by RJ — June 24, 2009 @ 4:30 pm
I agree w/ RJ! I always park and go in, hate to sit in line in a car. Would rather stand in line inside. And like RJ said, I'm usually done and out before I would have been at the drive thru. When I used to use the drive thru I was always the guy behind the guy who ordered for a whole baseball team...in the drive thru! I was behind a car once and I could hear him ordering, he just went on and on. After a minute or so I backed up, parked, and went in, he was still ordering, he had a $60/plus order at the drive thru!!! How rude is that! That was the end of my drive thru days.
Comment by Dennis — June 25, 2009 @ 9:10 am