A branch of El Pollo Loco in Santa Cruz recently closed, citing the absence of a drive thru window as the cause. Santa Cruz has a general ban on drive thrus but they were hoping to get an exemption or try it without. It didn't work.

The manager stated that 40% of their business typically comes from drive-thrus. There is a McD's in Santa Cruz that doesn't have a drive-thru but they always seem to be busy and have been around for years. So I really wonder how much business these places actually lose without the drive-thru. How many people would decide not to go to a fast food place because of the absence of a drive-thru?