# Walk-Up Fast Casual Windows Chipotle's New Walk-Up Windows are Changing the Pick-Up Experience By Katherine Pendrill | Published 2019-12-28 | Business Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/walkup-windows References: [delish](https://www.delish.com/food-news/a30347032/chipotle-walk-up-windows/) & [nrn](https://www.nrn.com/fast-casual/chipotle-mexican-grill-testing-prototype-stores-geared-1-billion-digital-business) [Chipotle](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/chipotle-3) continues to push the [fast casual space](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/white-castle-castle-of-tomorrow) into new territory with the debut of walk-up windows and the expansion of its drive-up 'Chipotlanes.' Chipotle's new walk-up windows first appeared at a Chicago location on December 19th. The walk-up windows are designed to work in tandem with mobile app orders by giving customers a dedicated space to collect their food. Two additional walk-up windows are also being tested in Cincinnati and Phoenix, suggesting that they might become a feature of future Chipotle store designs. In addition to the walk-up windows, Chipotle is also expanding its Chipotlanes, which are "[quick-service style car lanes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-hut-lane) designed for fetching online orders." According to CEO Brian Niccol, there may be as many as 60 Chipotlanes by the end of the year. Image Credit: *Chipotle.* ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 3.4/10 - Popularity: 43% | Activity: 50% | Freshness: 9% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Business](https://www.trendhunter.com/business) > [Retail](https://www.trendhunter.com/retail) ## Key Themes ### Key Themes Behind This Trend - **Walk-up Fast Casual Windows:** Chipotle's walk-up windows provide a convenient pick-up experience for customers, allowing for seamless integration of mobile app orders. - **Expansion of Chipotlanes:** Chipotle's Chipotlanes offer a quick-service car lane option for online orders, increasing efficiency and convenience for customers. - **Integration of Mobile App Orders:** Chipotle's focus on walk-up windows and Chipotlanes highlights the trend of integrating mobile app ordering systems to streamline the customer experience. ### Where This Applies - **Fast Casual Restaurants:** Fast casual restaurants like Chipotle can embrace walk-up windows and Chipotlanes to improve customer service and increase operational efficiency. - **Mobile App Development:** The expansion of walk-up windows and Chipotlanes creates opportunities for mobile app developers to create seamless ordering and pick-up experiences for food establishments. - **Fast Food Drive-thru:** The rise of Chipotlanes poses disruption opportunities for traditional fast food drive-thrus to adopt similar quick-service car lane models for online order pick-up. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Drive-Up Pickup Restaurants](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/fastmac.md) - [Mobile Drive-Thru Lanes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/chick-fil-a-2.md) - [Virtual QSR Drive-Thrus](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/smashburger-1.md) - [Virtual Restaurant Drive-Thrus](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/virtual-drivethru.md) - [Location-Based QSR Technology](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/chipotle-3.md) - [Digital-Oriented Restaurant Redesigns](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/global-next-gen.md) - [Tech-Driven Drive Thrus](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/techdriven-drivethru.md) - [Mobile-Order-Only Restaurants](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/chick-fil-a-mobile-ordering.md) - [Bowl-Focused Restaurant Concepts](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/farmesa.md)