Marlborough May Get New Store Feature Inspired By Pandemic

MARLBOROUGH, MA — A Waltham-based convenience store chain is aiming to make a pandemic-era shopping feature permanent.

The Alltown Fresh chain has applied to install a drive-thru window at its location in Marlborough at 656 Boston Post Road East. The feature, according to the company, would allow customers to use an app to order food ahead of time, and then pick it up at the window.

If Alltown gets city approval for the window, the store would begin by selling prepared food like coffee, soda and sandwiches. It's possible the store would add more to-go items in the future, including traditional packaged goods.

The feature is meant to institutionalize the curbside service many shoppers got used to during the pandemic, representatives told the Marlborough City Council on Monday.

Alltown operates nine stores in Massachusetts, Connecticut and New York. Only the locations in Ayer and Plymouth have drive-thru windows so far, according to the company. The City Council on Monday sent the proposal to the Council's Urban Affairs and Housing Committee.