S. Scottsdale McDonald's gets stylish

[karyn]

from az central

Maggie Galehouse
The Arizona Republic
Oct. 24, 2005 12:00 AM

SCOTTSDALE - Certainly, Ronald McDonald would clash with the new surroundings.

Think earth tones with dashes of gold, black and copper. Upholstered booth seats, and wood and metal ceiling fans. Funky picture frames hung without pictures. And a bathroom that most people would not mind in their own homes.

It's closer to Starbucks than to the red, yellow and plastic theme of McDonald's circa 1977.

Owners Jerry Wernau and partner Mark Kramer are hoping that the $300,000 remodel of their McDonald's at Scottsdale and Thomas roads will turn the space into "the four-star restaurant of the fast-food arena."

This redesign is one tiny part of a companywide initiative to "re-image" the 50-year-old chain, said McDonald's regional spokeswoman Carolyn Gust.

"A McDonald's opened in Denver with flat-screen plasma TVs," Gust said, "and some of the stores in the West and Southwest have fountains, gas fireplaces or leather sofas."

By the end of 2006, she said, 43 percent of the area McDonald's will have undergone some remodeling.

Wernau knew from the get-go that he did not want his south Scottsdale McDonald's to feel like a fast-food restaurant.

He and Kramer hired an interior decorator that, as luck would have it, used to own a McDonald's in Ohio and knew the traffic patterns and seating configurations.

Wernau first started working for the chain when he was 15 and now owns and operates 13 area McDonald's sites with Kramer.

[Spaceman Spiff]

As a person who has been to the McDonald's in question on several occasions, I have two responses: Are you kidding me & WTF for???
...here's a thought, lets take the McDonald's at the busiest intersection in the poor (by which I mean less rich ) part of Scottsdale and make it a 5 star eatery so that all the people on thier way out of Scottsdale can stop off and have a quick bite to eat in a highclass establishment. The retro Rock 'N' Roll McDonald's seemed like a good idea, it kinda fits with the image...but this, WTF!!!

...for those of you who read this and have no idea what I'm ranting about or are asking themselves "why should I care?"...sorry to have wasted your time... but, if its any consolation, I feel better now.

[Toe Cutter]

I like plastic booths and loud colours. Feels more authentic that way. That tope and teal shite is going to look so dated. Yuck.

[keiko]

It doesn't matter hwo you dress up crap, it's still crap. Paint a turd gold it's still a turd. Make a McDonald's look like a four star resturaunt the food will still make you fat and greasy just like it is. *shakes head* This is that hand basket i was talking about the world going to hell in.....
K

[VoldtaEngler]

I hear white castle is merging with Trump Hotel and Casino next

[cheshire centauri]

Paint a turd gold it's still a turd.

[mmmcherry]

yeah near where i live theres a really nicely remodeled mcdicks... got a huge gas fireplace that is both inside AND outside... (i guess for the homeless people at nite to stay warm??) it looks like it could be a nice lodge resteraunt... but then you see the big golden arches and you think... oh yeah right... fuck that.

[Kidthorazine]

yeah whats the fucking point if i go into a McDonalds its usually because i either a.) Am walking around and have to piss or B.) im in a hurry, broke and need food i dont give a shit about how nice a place that sells bad food is im just there to grab a quick, cheap burger. i mean honestly if i want to eat in a nice restaurant atmosphere ill go to a nice resaurant not a really mediocre burger place.

[hewhoisagod]

generally, those places that are dressed nice have shitty food. At least that's been my experience. Although right now I'm missing Denny's, apparently, the whole 24 hour restaurant thing doesn't exist in France. And since bars close at 4 here I'm pretty damn hungry when I get out. But yeah Mc Donalds is only for mediocre cheap food, at least in the states. It's 9 bucks here for a meal at Mc D's. So I just go to a Turkish sandwich shop and get a Kebab and some fries. Fills you up better and it's about 4 euros for a meal.

[mmmcherry]

sounds better than mcdonalds anyday
mmmm turkish sandwich...

[hewhoisagod]

yeah, they rock. I've eaten a lot of North African food here too. Good stuff. I've only been to one fast food place here called Quick, it was kinda wierd walking in and hearing death metal over the loud speakers. But it's good drunk food since they're open 24 hours thursday, friday and saturday. And I don't have to go outside to smoke. God I love France.

[reubs]

fuck i love kebabs.