Flickr: Terry Presley

Domino's Hotspots Make Delivery to Unexpected Locations Easy

It used to be that if you wanted to get a Domino's pizza delivered somewhere that wasn't an address — say a park or a sports field — you had to call the local pizza place and hope you could talk them into making that delivery. Not anymore. Welcome to the world of tomorrow, where Domino's hotspots system mean you can get pizza delivered anywhere.

Well, anywhere within reason. But with over 150,000 Domino's Hotspots across the country, there's a good chance you can find one close to you. The hotspots are outdoor locations that don't have a traditional address where drivers can meet customers curbside to hand off orders.

domino's hotspots

Domino's Pizza

"We listened to customers and their need for pizza delivery to locations without a traditional address," said Russell Weiner, president of Domino's USA. "We know that delivery is all about convenience, and Domino's Hotspots are an innovation that is all about flexible delivery options for customers."

Local Domino's stores selected the hotspot locations, so you can expect the drivers to know where the locations are. It's important to note that the hotspots aren't a negotiation — you meet the delivery driver at the specified hand-off spot, though you can provide instructions to help the driver find you like what color shirt you're wearing or what kind of car you drive.

This innovation in delivery is great for getting food delivered when you're not home. For example, it could be useful for college students studying at the library (though we highly recommend following the rules about no food around the books) or your kid's softball game at local parks.

domino's hotspots

You can get pizza delivered to the beach (Virginia Beach has three hotspots on Atlantic Avenue, which parallels the beach boardwalk; Wrightsville Beach in North Carolina has more than a few). You can even get a pizza delivered to some iconic locations like the "Welcome to Las Vegas" sign, the Gateway Arch in St. Louis, and the Music City Walk of Fame in Nashville.

You can only use Domino's Hotspots through online ordering at dominos.com or via the mobile app; you can't call a store to place your order. Plus, you'll need to prepay by card; this is a no-cash transaction. When you place your order, the app will determine the hotspot closest to you. Then you'll get text message alerts about your delivery, including a text that gives you an estimated time of arrival for the driver at the hand-off spot.

The new delivery method, tested in Miami last year, is just one of the changes the pizza chain has been making over the past few years to increase business. Right now, Domino's delivers around 65 percent of its order, meaning that more delivery options may help them corner that market.
wide-open-eats-video-channel

Watch: How to Hack a Frozen Pizza