Apr 21, 20221 min read

Drive-Thru Service for the Military

Crazy Facts Series #7 - The first McDonald's Drive Thru was installed in 1975

Imagine pulling into America’s most prevalent fast-food franchise and having no choice but to get out of your car and march a hundred feet or more just to place your order.

You can thank the military for that super easy convenience that we take advantage of today when we go out for fast-food - the Drive-Thru! Why is the military the inspiration for this world-changing solution on Jan. 24, 1975,

The first McDonald's Drive Thru was installed in a restaurant based in Sierra Vista, Arizona, located near the Fort Huachuca military installation.

Military rules forbade the soldiers from wearing their military uniforms in public, and they weren't about to change into civilian clothes just to grab a burger and run back to base.

The restaurant manager David Rich came up with a solution: cut a hole into the wall and allow members of the military to pick up their orders without stepping out of their car. The convenience and simplicity of the idea quickly caught on.