When you think of drive-thrus what comes to mind? Most likely being able to order and pick up burgers and fries from the convenience of your car. But these days, drive-thru services offer more than just a way to fill up on your favourite fast food. We’re sharing some surprising things you can get and do at a drive-thru that don’t involve food.
Drive-thru liquor store
Need booze quickly? You can stock up on whatever your go-to tipple is from the front seat of your car at a drive-thru liquor store. There are numerous drive-thru liquor store locations around North America and most work like any typical drive-thru: you drive up, ask for what you want and then wait for the person in the window to get it for you. This concept works best for people who like to keep things simple and know what they want versus people who like to browse.
Drive-thru wedding chapel
Getting married doesn’t always have to involve a lengthy ceremony. In fact, you can pack up your wedding gear, grab your spouse-to-be and head to Las Vegas to tie the knot in mere minutes. This is a great option for people who want to spend more time celebrating their nuptials than actually getting married. Less time saying “I do” means more time gambling or exploring the Strip. A Little White Wedding Chapel is one place where you can get married without leaving your car thanks to the chapel’s “Tunnel of Love” that allows for drive-thru ceremonies. There are various packages to choose from depending on the length of ceremony you’re looking for. The Fast Lane (pictured above) is another great option.
Drive-thru department store
Who needs to spend all that time wandering up and down aisles, sifting through clothing racks or going from store to store trying to find what you need? Time-crunched shoppers can pick up pre-ordered goods via Mygofer’s convenient drive-thru. Customers who choose this option (there is also a delivery or in-store pick-up) order what they need via the Mygofer website, complete the online purchase, wait to be notified when their order is ready then simply hop in the car and get their purchases at the drive-thru window. Mygofer sells everything from food and other grocery items to tools, toys, pet supplies, electronics and more. Talk about one-stop shopping!
Drive-thru funeral viewing
While the jury is still out on whether mourning loved ones via a drive-thru is appropriate, the fact remains that drive-thru funeral services exist. These services allow people to pay their respects at a drive-thru window in their cars. The aim of drive-thru viewings or visitations is to give time-crunched people the chance to attend a viewing in a way that suits their schedule. One such place is the Paradise Funeral Chapel in Saginaw, Michigan.
Drive-thru church service
You can go to church without getting out of your car in Daytona Beach, Florida. More a drive-in than a drive-thru, Daytona Beach Drive In Christian Church makes it possible to attend a service in the comfort of your car. Services typically last about 55 minutes and visitors are given a pre-packaged “communion set” which include grape juice, communion bread and instructions for how to locate the radio station on which the church broadcasts the service. From there, all you have to do is settle in, get comfortable and listen to the service. Services are offered year-round so when winter hits it’s a good idea to wear layers or bring blankets. Or just park and go inside which is also an option.
Drive-thru tree
If you can use a drive-thru to get a hamburger, or a bottle of tequila, why not use one to get closer to nature? Drive-thru trees exist in California along the Redwood Coast. They are all privately owned, which means you will have to pay a fee in order to drive through one. Chandelier Tree is one of the most famous and it stands 96 metres high with a base diameter of over six metres. The giant tree has a tunnel going through it and is named for the chandelier-like shape its limbs make. Once you drive through the tree you can stick around to use the picnic area, browse the gift shop for a souvenir or take a nature walk through the surrounding forest.
Drive-thru library
Books, like burgers, can also be acquired via a drive-thru window. Whether you’re picking books up or returning them, there are several spots where you can do so from your car. At Westerville Public library for example, in Westerville, Ohio, eager readers can reserve materials online, over the phone or in person and then pick them up via the drive-thru window once they are ready. There is also a drop box for items you need to return just past the drive-thru window. A few other libraries with drive-thru windows include Fountaindale Public Library in Bolingbrook, Illinois, and Monroe Township Library in Monroe Township, New Jersey.
Drive-thru art
In 2006 the Contemporary Art Gallery in Vancouver offered a unique way to appreciate art – from inside your car. The gallery implemented a program that allowed people to access art, in this case videos, from a drive-thru window. Drivers pulled up to a kiosk, chose from six videos, and got to watch without getting out of the car. Popcorn was sadly, not provided. The unique, car-friendly exhibit ran for several weeks but no longer exists.
Drive-thru strip club
Although it was shut down several years ago there used to be a drive-thru strip club (yes, you read that right) outside Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Opened in 2000, the club allowed drivers to watch strippers through a window from the comfort of their cars for a fee. The club closed down in 2009, but was claimed to be the only one of its kind in the world.
Lead photo: Amit Patel
