As a designer, you have to respect what McDonald’s has done for its fast food restaurants from a hospitality design perspective. The brightly colored, plastic-laden, family-friendly interiors were more practical and functional than they were stylish or commendable, but served a purpose by offering their loyal customer basis consistency right across the world. That said, as I sit back late on a Friday evening reviewing the news from the week that was, I came across something that put me in a position I never thought, not in a million years, I would be in – I am reviewing the latest remodeling of some of McDonald’s branches.
Having read something in Business Week a while back (by a while back I mean it was many months to years, I don’t recall), I knew McDonald’s was pursuing more of a lifestyle theme in many of its European restaurants. But, it wasn’t until I read an online article from today’s edition of Canada’s major daily newspaper, the Globe and Mail, that it really caught my attention.
After reading the article, I spent about an hour or so this evening reviewing several of the fast-food giant’s newly stylized branches across the globe and I realized that I actually like some of them. The food is not something I am willing to debate, but I do have to applaud them in terms of taking the initiative and trying to compete with the more lifestyle-friendly cafe-style eateries that we frequent these days, such as Starbucks, Panera Bread and the many excellent independent coffee houses.
I am not a frequent visitor for their food, I do have to say, but I have ducked in occasionally for one of their McCafe specials (when in dire need of coffee I also find myself in Dunkin Donuts, Starbucks, Seattle’s Best, whatever is to hand) when in New York and time doesn’t allow for sit-down coffee as I am flying between the wonderful D&D building and one boutique showroom or another. I haven’t been in one of the newly-remodeled restaurants as yet – but I will be on the lookout – and, who knows, if it’s as inviting as the ones I have reviewed today I may just sit instead of having that coffee to go.
Posted by Keren Fathi-Poor at 5 March, 2010
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Comment by admin on March 6, 2010 at 7:07 am
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Comment by Jennifer on May 13, 2010 at 5:40 pm