Why Doesn’t Michigan Have More Drive Thru Party Stores?

There are some parts of the country where a drive thru convivence store can be seen in nearly every town. But they seemingly never caught on in Michigan. Why not?

The subject came up recently on Facebook with a question asking about drive thru party stories specifically in the Lansing area.

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That Facebook discussion concluded with the fact that all former drive-thru party stores in the Lansing area are long gone.

Michigan does allow for drive-thru alcohol sales - one of 30 states to permit it - but finding an actual drive thru in the state is not easy. There are two, maybe two and a half, still in operation that we're aware of.

There is at least two drive thru party store in the state. One is along State Street in Saginaw the Fast Lane.

Another is located in southeast Michigan, the Monroe Beer Cooler along Front Street in Monroe. That store dates back to 1948 and was reopened in 2022 after being closed for some time.

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A third possibility of an open drive-thru party store is the Swak Drive Thru in Flint. However that's more of a pickup window rather than a true drive a vehicle through a building experience.

A former drive thru party store existed in Kalamazoo at Portage and Alcott, the Drive Thru Party Factory with a sign bearing the slogan, "Drive Thru, get a Few."

Another location bearing the name Drive Thru Party Store existed in Saginaw but the building has since been demolished for a quick lube.

The Beer Depot in Ann Arbor bears a sign advertising a drive-thru still today some 23 years after the drive thru was discontinued.

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So while they may still be legal in Michigan, don't expect to find one in your neighborhood.