Dive Brief:
- A&W Restaurants announced a new development prototype inspired by classic diners and the brand’s original, roadside root beer stands, according to a Tuesday press release.
- The new design ranges from 2,200 to 2,800 square feet and can seat 40 to 70 guests.
- In contrast to many prototype redesigns from recent years that favor small footprints and frictionless off-premise experiences, A&W said the new model “creates an inviting atmosphere that balances functionality with an exceptional dine-in experience.”
Dive Insight:
The new prototype is the largest of A&W’s stable of store formats, according to its 2026 franchise disclosure document. This expansion in size and the significant seating capacity are part of a strategy to differentiate A&W from other QSRs.
“As many restaurant brands embrace increasingly transactional guest experiences, A&W is doubling down on what has always set us apart: handcrafted quality, genuine hospitality and meaningful connections with the communities we serve,” President and CEO Betsy Schmandt said in the press release.
A&W’s new prototype is generally larger than its other formats
In recent years, many brands have moved toward smaller-footprint, off-premise-focused prototypes. Checkers & Rally’s announced a new design that roughly halved its square footage last year, for example. Potbelly’s 2024 digital-forward prototype shaved 500 square feet off of its traditional locations. Earlier this year, Huey Magoo’s unveiled a prototype that cut 750 square feet from its store size.
At the same time, however, many major chains have sought to re-emphasize on-premise experiences in their renovation and development strategies. Starbucks, for example, is spending hundreds of millions of dollars to remake its stores as neighborhood coffeehouses after a long shift toward transaction-focused designs, and Cava’s new restaurant openings are focused on dining room ambiance.
