Wendy’s drive-thru shift

Wendy's is testing drive-thru-only restaurants in high-crime cities to boost employee safety by eliminating indoor dining areas. (bloomberg.com) The chain plans to open its first such locations in Oakland, California, and Philadelphia next year. These stores will feature pickup windows and curbside service but no dine-in options. (bloomberg.com) Wendy's Chief Executive Kirk Tanner said the design reduces risks from in-store robberies and violence, which have surged at fast-food spots nationwide. U.S. fast-food robberies jumped 34% from 2022 to 2023, per NYPD data cited by industry analysts. (bloomberg.com; nypost.com) Oakland reported 126 homicides in 2023, more than double its pre-pandemic rate, while Philadelphia saw 410 murders that year. Both cities rank among the highest for violent crime per capita. (oaklandside.org; cbsnews.com) Fast-food chains face rising threats: McDonald's closed some Chicago locations in 2020 after repeated armed robberies, and Taco Bell shuttered Oakland stores in 2023 over safety issues. Wendy’s reported a 25% increase in U.S. restaurant crime incidents last year. (cnbc.com; nbcbayarea.com; x.com) Customers praise the safety focus but complain about losing dine-in convenience in bad weather or for groups. One Philadelphia local tweeted, "Drive-thru only? Fine for safety, but what about families eating together?" (x.com) Workers support the shift: A Wendy’s employee in a high-crime area said, "No more dealing with walk-ins who turn violent—huge relief." Unions like the Service Employees International Union have pushed for similar protections amid 2024's spike in restaurant assaults. (reddit.com; seiu.org) If successful, Wendy’s may expand the model beyond pilots, adapting to urban crime trends that already closed 100+ U.S. fast-food sites since 2020. Testing starts in Q2 2025. (bloomberg.com; qsrweb.com)