There’s takeout, there’s delivery and then there’s the “No Park Curb Service” at Señor Grandes Fresh Mexican Grill in Woodland Hills – courtesy of a typical L.A. traffic snarl. When a 45,000-square-foot L.A. Fitness opened last year near the 21-year-old West Valley burrito spot, the popular restaurant took a big hit. Owner Jason Schwetz said the already busy center at Victory Boulevard and Canoga Avenue instantly became a nightmare. Schwetz would stand outside his restaurant and watch cars, and potential customers, drive away. “Lunch business dropped as much as 20 percent,” he said. “And the single largest impact is this parking situation.” With that dilemma, Schwetz began designing his take on takeout. Orders can be made online or through the company’s mobile app. The customers drive by the restaurant, turn on their hazard lights and receive their meal at the car window. No parking required. Schwetz said he brought in several different companies to work on the service, which cost more than $20,000 and took more than seven months to develop. That included establishing online ordering, building a mobile app and hiring an SMS company to create an automated texting system. Curbside pickup has been an industry service for decades, with major chains such as P.F. Chang’s and B.J.’s currently offering it. But drive-by burritos may be something new, said Angie Pappas, spokeswoman for the California Restaurant Association. “It’s really smart,” she said. “It makes things more automated. More and more independents are trying to tap more into the takeout market.” The curbside service has been running for less than a month, but Schwetz said business is already picking up. What’s more, the average check from an order placed for pickup is significantly higher than the $9.25 average in the restaurant. He said lunchtime orders especially have increased and business customers have been praising him for the service. “What’s not to like about this?” he asked. “You roll down your window, get your food and go. It’s that quick.” – Elliot Golan
Driving Up Restaurant’s Curb Appeal
