The first digital restaurant to appear in New York: how it works

Chipotle Mexican Grill will open its first digital establishment in New York as online sales grow. The edition writes about it USA Today.

Chipotle's first digital kitchen will open Saturday, November 14, in Highland Falls, New York.

In this way, the chain aims to penetrate urban areas that will not have full-size restaurants. “With digital sales tripling last quarter from last year, consumers are demanding more digital access than ever before. Therefore, we are constantly exploring new ways to improve the quality of our guests' experience, ”said Curt Garner, CTO at Chipotle.

The digital restaurant will not have dinner tables and no waiters to serve customers. Customers will need to order in advance via the website Chipotle.com, the Chipotle app or third party shipping partners. Customers will be able to pick up their orders in the lobby.

In addition, Chipotle will handle large catering orders that can be picked up in a separate lobby with a separate entrance.

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Chipotle began accepting orders via Facebook Messenger in June amid growing online sales.

Virtual restaurants are expected to become more widespread as, according to report From the National Restaurant Association on how the industry might operate in 2030, the platform offers cheaper rents and fewer barriers to entry.

Restaurants that rely heavily on the ability to host in their lounges have faced difficulties due to capacity restrictions amid the coronavirus pandemic. As the restrictions remain in place, Americans are increasingly ordering food online for home delivery.

Recall that in the meantime, New York is introducing a new partial lockdown. Restrictions include the closure of bars and restaurants after 22:00. The restaurant business described the new curfew as "a huge blow to the restaurant industry, which is desperate to stay afloat." Read more about this. in this publication.