National Drive Thru Day
About National Drive Thru Day
When is National Drive Thru Day? This holiday is always celebrated on July 24.
Today we celebrate and enjoy a very special holiday. It is National Drive Thru Day, a July 24 holiday. The American lifestyle is fast-paced and demanding. We don’t have the time to get out of our car and enter a store to place a hopefully quick order. And, we don’t have to leave our warm and dry vehicles during inclement weather. Since its inception, drive-thru venues have offered Americans the speed and convenient service we need as we go through our busy day.
People around the world enjoy the ease, speed, and convenience of using the drive thru windows. They are customer focused and very friendly. It is certainly nice to remain in your car to pick up a wide variety of items, or to do your banking. You don’t have to get out of your car in cold and blustery winter weather, or on a scorching hot summer day. They are efficient for the restaurant, too. As you know, it allows us to shop for a wide range of goods and services without leaving our car. The most popular venues are coffee and donut shops, fast food restaurants of all kinds, drug stores, and even liquor stores in some states.
The typical restaurant drive thru has two or three windows. The first has a screen with the menu and a microphone to place your order. Over the years the quality, or lack thereof, of the microphone has been the source of many jokes. Touch screens are replacing the microphones. It is labor-saving and customers like this feature. The second window is where you pay for your order. At the third pick-up window, your order is handed to you. Merchants like banks and drug stores may have only one window to take care of your order quickly and efficiently.
Drive Thru History
Drive Thru windows have been around for almost 100 years. Here’s a little history of their creation and evolution:
- 1928 – City Center Bank in Syracuse, NY is the first to offer drive thru window service.
- 1930 – Grand National Bank in St. Louis, MO is one of the earliest banks to offer this service.
- 1947 – Red’s Giant Hamburg on Route 66 in Springfield, MO is credited as the first restaurant to provide this service.
- 1948 – In-N-Out Burger begins to drive thru service. It is the longest surviving restaurant to offer it.
- 1951 – Jack-in-the-Box is the first national hamburger chain to offer this service.
- 1975 – Mcdonald’s opens its first drive thru.
- the 2010s – Touch screens begin to replace microphones for placing orders.
Drive Thru windows have a significant impact on American culture. More and more people grab a quick bite to eat in their cars. As a direct result, auto manufacturers began adding cupholders to vehicles in 1983.
Did You Know? The best time to use a drive-thru is mid-afternoon.
How to Celebrate National Drive Thru Day
It’s both easy and convenient to celebrate this special holiday. As soon as you leave the house for the day, use the drive thru window of your local coffee shop to get that first cup of Joe. Next, go into the drive thru lane for your banking and drug store pick-up. Plan to pick up lunch and dinner from a restaurant. Take it “to go”, using the fast drive thru at the restaurants. Look for other merchants who offer this service. Shop and patronize them today.
Money Saving Tip: Some merchants may offer freebies, discounts, or promotions on National Drive Thru Day. Check your local newspapers and online for any advertised specials.
Today's Quote
“Any man who can drive safely while kissing a pretty girl is simply not giving the kiss the attention it deserves.” – – Albert Einstein
History and Origin of National Drive Thru Day
This holiday was first celebrated in 2002. It was created by the burger chain Jack-in-the-Box. Without a doubt, it was created to recognize, celebrate, and promote drive thru windows.
We believe this is not a true “National” day. While it is clear that the word “National” was a part of the title of this day from the beginning, we found no reference to this as an actual national day. Neither the U.S. Congress nor the President of the United States has proclaimed today National Drive Thru Day.
Definition of “National” Days – and why it is so important to distinguish and identify true national days.
More July 24 Holidays
Here are more July 24 holidays you will enjoy:
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