Last month in Brooklyn Park, MN., Taco Bell broke ground on what it billed as one of its most innovative restaurant designs yet — Taco Bell Defy.  Set to open its doors to the public by summer 2022, the 3,000 square-foot, two-story model features four drive-through lanes. Taco Bell is not alone in this trend; in general, QSRs are paring down their footprints, especially the single-tenant drive-through tenants.

But Taco Bell Defy represents another, quieter trend in the QSR and net lease space — one that equally promises to have a significant impact as the increased use of drive-throughs and smaller footprints. And that is the use of modular construction. 

Modular or manufactured buildings have long been associated with residential prefabricated homes, but this building technology is now making its way into commercial retail development.

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