Wi-Fi & Armchairs Do Not Make McDonald’s Upscale
McDonald’s is attempting a makeover of its plastic interior and red roofs according to a new story in BusinessWeek:
The dining area will be separated into three sections with distinct personalities. The “linger” zone will offer comfortable armchairs, sofas, and Wi-Fi connections. “The focus is on young adults who want to socialize, hang out, and linger,” says Dixon. Brand consultant Robert Passikoff, president of Brand Keys, a brand consulting firm, says that Starbucks has raised the bar: “A level has been set by Starbucks, which offers the experience of relaxed chairs and a clean environment where people feel comfortable hanging out even if it’s just over a cup of coffee.”
The “grab and go” zone will feature tall counters with bar stools for customers who eat alone; plasma TVs will offer them news and weather reports. And in the “flexible” zone, families will have booths featuring fabric cushions with colorful patterns and flexible seating. The new design allows different music to be targeted to each zone.
It has not been said if the proposed McDonald’s on Grand has all the new elements described above. Even if it does, it won’t compensate for what we see on the outside: excessive parking, noisy drive-thru lane, glaring parking lot lights and continual litter problems. It is understandable that residents adjacent to the proposed site don’t want a McDonald’s as a neighbor.
Some have asked what the big deal is, that it is just moving across the street. Is it really that simple? Of course not. Those who think this is such a great idea most likely don’t live backed up to a drive-thru. The real issue is this section of Grand has been wounded for decades with such establishments. We are now at a make or break point of continuing down that suburban path or re-urbanizing the street. McDonald’s has been around for a while so I can see allowing them to rebuild on their current site but I see no reason for us to allow them to relocate to a different site. If forced to, McDonald’s can make the current site work by adding a retaining wall.
The next Gravois Park Neighborhood Association meeting will be tomorrow, Tuesday May 9, 2006 at 6pm. The meeting is held at the St. Matthew United Church of Christ, 2613 Potomac St. at Jefferson Avenue (map). Look for lively discussion of the McDonald’s issue.
– Steve
Lets not forget the history of this neighborhood.
Well before the Sears was torn down, this area was a working class neighborhood. There were drunks, and it was not perfect, however, there was local businesses, and it was a good place to live.
Crime increased, businesses left, and citizens left because of the crime.
Once Sears left, the area got really bad. The only remaining businesses were fast food restaurants.
Now the area is on an upswing. The fast food restaurants cannot sustain this growth.
We need something that will draw residents, not push them away…
Keystone homeowners have already left, as Pyramid said the residential would extend to the lot. Other homeowners are considering leaving.
The idea of a McDonald’s is driving citizens away, this is alienation.
Alienating citizens only deteriorates the neighborhood.
This is pretty clear.
Alienating citizens only deteriates the neighborhood.
This is pretty clear.
One more time:
ALIENATING HOMEOWNERS DRIVES THEM AWAY!
I’m suspecting a rise in prices to compensate for the increase in overhead for extra space to “linger” and for the plasma TVs. Even the better seating in the “flexible” area will cost more than the standard fare we see now.
Makes me wonder if people wouldn’t rather spend all that money on healthier fare.
The McDonald’s on Hanley near Dale by Home Depot already has one of those fancy plasma TVs, usually tuned to CNN in the mornings. Fancy-schmancy.
Somehow I don’t think we’ll see that at Grand and Chippewa.
I read somewhere that all new McDonald’s have to adhere to the new design standards. So unless this guy gets some special exemption, I would expect to this kind of McDonald’s at the S. Grand location. I’ve seen pictures of some of these redesigned stores, and they look a lot better, inside and out…but you’re right that still can’t compensate for all the parking and being set back from the street. I’d be for this project if they brought it up to the street corner, provided bike racks etc. I think there is more chance in affecting the design in this way than stopping the project all together…but more power to you.
Perhaps these questions will aid those who just don’t get it about this issue: What do you want Grand from Utah to ca. Osage to look like? Kingshighway fr. Arsenal to Chippewa area, or Grand from 44 to Utah?
This project is unacceptable regardless of the design.
It will have a drive-thru, this violates the ordinance.
Only through a unilateral amendment, which is against the wishes of the Keystone homeowners, and surrounding residents, can the drive-thru be legal. Even then, McDonalds is not wanted…
This area deserves more. McDonalds contributes nothing to the neighborhood or property values.
All City residents should be upset over these political maneuvers. This is alienation. People are already moving away.
Because people want to sit and smell McDonald’s for hours while playing on their laptops? Um, right. And all these nice features aren’t going to get vandalized or stolen? Is their a security system in place too?
McDonald’s needs to get the hell out of the city and be replaced by local and healthier businesses. McDonald’s belongs in the County where they like everything to be the same.
Any news on if Wal-Mart is still trying to break into the city?
McDonald’s trying to be Starbucks will be just as successful as Dell trying to replicate iPods.
Ald. Florida has been deceptive all through this process with this proposed relocation.
Doug is right that the drive-thru violates neighborhood ordinance. No wonder that Ald. Florida has a board bill up to change that! She must want her Big Macs.
Even if this wasn’t against the neighborhood ordinance or Ald. Florida was going about this in a manner that engaged the local neighborhood, the current operator of the McDonalds doesn’t run a good restaurant.
Regardless, of all this Wi-Fi crap, I am sure current McDonald’s standards require light bulbs to be changed and basic cleanliness. If they want to rebuild they must do so on their current site. Considering that $250,000 in sales tax figure that was previously mentioned, it shouldn’t be tough to come up with the cash!
Good points all around Travis.
Another point about the owner James Proctor, his health code violations!
3737 S Grand:
http://stlcin.missouri.org/citydata/newdesign/csb.cfm?handle=11604060120
2 on Hampton:
http://stlcin.missouri.org/citydata/newdesign/csb.cfm?handle=14635000040
http://stlcin.missouri.org/citydata/newdesign/csb.cfm?handle=16340000120
You can search for his other McDonald’s as well. He owns the two, listed above, on Hampton, and two more in the City.
General “Ratings” (I question these):
http://stlcin.missouri.org/pubhealth/restaurantratings/index.cfm
The above link will list the ratings. I do not know how the McDonald’s still recieves an A with all of its complaints. Even if not all of the complaints are confirmed, some of them are, and I am sure the complaints are not erroneous.
Wow…this guy also owns the McD’s at Hampton and Chippewa? I’ve always thought of that one as the best run McD’s I’ve ever been to. Ever. I’m shocked it’s the same guy.