As much as we all love McDonald's, we can't say the same about their interiors. Luckily, the golden arches' "cafeteria-style look" is about to have a major makeover if the Oak Brook, Illinois-based company succeeds in its plans.
The decision to update their aesthetic is not at all surprising though, as McDonald's continues to fight its sales slump for the last few years as competitors continue to threaten the fast food chain. BuzzFeed reports:
"The 60-year-old burger chain and its U.S. franchisees are in the process of updating their restaurants according to several new designs, part of a wider effort to breathe new life into an aging brand. McDonald's is battling a years-long sales slump brought on by growing competition from upscale fast food chains like Shake Shack as well as newly food-focused companies like Starbucks."
Max Carmona, McDonald's senior director of U.S. restaurant design explains, "We've moved away from a cafeteria feel to a more comfortable and, in some ways, more intimate restaurant." He notes that while cafeterias aren't as stylish, they still are "a legacy."
The new look is styled to appeal to more adult customers, even though McDonald's boasts of a family-friendly joint - focusing on their market of families and children.
"A lot of new things we're doing now in terms of menu, technology, and customization, I don't think you can do that effectively in a non-modernized restaurant," Carmona noted, referencing the new in-store kiosks.
He continued, "Modernized restaurants are the foundation for all these great ideas and innovations." The new interior design move is also to stay up to date with their older competitors like Burger King and Wendy's, who have continued to update their franchises as well.
Overseas franchises of McDonald's have already begun renovating their interiors, which also helped the U.S. division, since the new designs were also "imported from other markets."
In fact, the "Form" (photo) and "Allegro" (photo) styles came from Australia. Meanwhile, Canada's "Origin" and Europe's "Wood + Stone" will also be employed in the U.S. McDonald's chains.
