# Drive-Up Restaurant Formats Sweetgreen Opened Its Fourth Sweetlane Drive-Up Location By Adam Harrie | Published 2026-08-18 | Lifestyle Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/sweetlane-drive-up References: [businesswire](https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260818068561/en/Sweetgreen-Expands-Its-sweetlane-Footprint-With-First-Ever-East-Coast-Location-Opening-in-McLean-Virginia)  Sweetgreen opened its fourth Sweetlane drive-up location in McLean, Virginia, introducing a dedicated order-ahead [drive-up window](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/Roy-Rogers-Restaurants) to Northern Virginia. The format, first piloted in 2022, allows guests to place orders via Sweetgreen's app or website and pick them up directly from the drive-up lane, alongside traditional [dine-in and in-store pickup options](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/dualformat-dining). The McLean location offers Sweetgreen's full menu, including the [Harvest Bowl](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/tis-the-seasoned-harvest-bowl) and Crispy Rice Bowl, along with newer additions such as its wraps lineup and the permanent Omega Glow salmon bowl. Guests can also try the limited-time Sweetgreen x Fishwife Summer Niçoise through August 24, with a grand opening celebration on August 20 featuring giveaways, flowers and cookies. Sweetgreen's expanding sweetlane format shows how pairing drive-through convenience with scratch-cooked food can extend a brand's accessibility. Image Credit: Shutterstock/Tada Images ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 4.4/10 - Popularity: 18% | Activity: 22% | Freshness: 91% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Lifestyle](https://www.trendhunter.com/lifestyle) > [Food](https://www.trendhunter.com/food) ## Key Themes ### Why This Trend Is Growing - **Order-ahead Drive-up:** Mobile-first pickup lanes create room for restaurants to combine digital ordering precision with faster, lower-friction access to freshly prepared meals. - **Healthy Fast-casual Convenience:** Scratch-cooked menus delivered through drive-up formats signal a shift where wellness-focused brands can compete more directly with traditional quick-service speed. - **Hybrid Restaurant Formats:** Blending dine-in, in-store pickup and dedicated drive-up windows expands the ways restaurant real estate can serve changing consumer routines. ### Industries Being Reshaped - **Fast-casual Restaurants:** Digital drive-up models are reshaping fast-casual operations by making premium, made-to-order meals more convenient without relying on conventional drive-thru menus. - **Restaurant Technology:** App-based ordering, pickup coordination and lane-based fulfillment highlight growing demand for systems that connect customer intent with streamlined restaurant execution. - **Commercial Real Estate:** Purpose-built restaurant sites with pickup lanes and flexible service zones reflect new property requirements tied to off-premise dining growth. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Fast-Casual Pickup Experiences](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/cottleville-restaurant.md) - [Strategic Greenhouse Expansion Phases](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/little-leaf-farm.md) - [Flavor-Driven Salad Ranges](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/olivias-organics-salad.md) - [Integrated Drive-Thru Payment Platforms](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/square-for-drivethru.md) - [Seasonal QSR Menu Options](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/spring-seasonal-menu.md) - [Double Drive-Thru Restaurants](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/double-drive-thru-restaurants.md) - [Seasonal Wellness Eatery Menus](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/season-of-strength-menu.md) - [Build-Your-Own Salad Concepts](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/salata.md) - [Regional Salad Chain Openings](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/west-omaha-restaurant.md)