Orlando, Fla. — Fast-casual chicken tenders chain Huey Magoo’s is introducing a freestanding drive-thru prototype designed to lower build costs and increase site flexibility for franchisees. The design allows development on sites that were previously not viable, supporting growth in more markets while reducing upfront investment.
The prototype extends the brand’s “cost-conscious” design approach into a standalone drive-thru format, building on momentum from 2025 when Huey Magoo’s introduced a condensed 1,500-square-foot inline model.
Designed in-house by Melissa McCammack, director of architecture and design, the ground-up drive-thru model totals approximately 1,850 square feet with an outdoor cooler. At 40 feet wide by 50 feet deep, it is designed to fit typical half-acre parcels and includes seating for 37 guests indoors and 18 on an exterior patio, along with a drive-thru lane. Compared with the brand’s current freestanding prototype, which is approximately 2,600 square feet with 42 seats, the design is an estimated 40 percent reduction in ground-up development costs.
Founded in 2004, Huey Magoo’s has nearly 90 locations open across 12 states and is on track to surpass 100 stores by year end.