|
|
|
McDonald’s makeover goes contemporary |
|
|
|
Written by Citizen staff
|
|
Friday, 21 November 2008 |
The McDonald's restaurant at Massey Drive has been remodelled to reflect a contemporary, forever-young look, says Val O'Connor, an owner-operator.
"We use a lot of wood design," she said in an interview Friday on the occasion of grand re-opening ceremonies.
All five McDonald's locations in Prince George and the restaurant in Wal-Mart have been remodelled or rebuilt over the past three years. Val and Dean O'Connor are owner-operators of all the McDonald's restaurants in the city.
The remodelling of the Massey Drive location took place in August. "We gutted the whole thing," Val O'Connor said. "We took everything down to the walls, and put in new ceilings, bulkheads and new soft lighting to make it more contemporary."
The emphasis was on earth tones.
On the outside of the building workers removed cinder blocks and put in stone and wood. A new copper roof also helped to make it look more contemporary.
Inside the building, earth tones are seen in light-coloured brick walls, green ceramic tiles and bamboo-like tiles. "When some of the customers come here, they say, 'I want to bring my wife here and show her this tile'," O'Connor said.
Green floor tiles have been set in to form a pathway pattern leading to the counter. River rocks have been set into some walls, and wallpaper and murals depict river channels and nature scenes. "It's like a collage of photographic images," she said.
All the lights are new so that customers can enjoy soft lighting. Hand-made glass hanging lamps are positioned over the large booths for four patrons along the windows facing south. "Lots of windows enhance the openness of the restaurant," O'Connor said.
Strategically placed halogen spotlights over the smaller two-seat booths along the inside north wall also illuminate a collage of photographs in the centre of that wall. "Here we have different dynamics, with images of people, rivers, plants and rocks," she said. "It's clear, bright and very soothing.
"It's a big change." The upholstery of the booths also reflects a river pebble design.
A representational fireplace along the interior north wall, which looks like a gas fireplace in many city homes, features LED lights among river rocks. Reflecting colours from the lights, the rocks at intervals turn from green to purple and other hues. At the same time wavy flames rise up from these LCD lights along the glass fireplace cover.
An architect was at a Las Vegas design show and saw the fireplace, and he wanted to bring it to the North. "It's the first one here," Val O'Connor said. "It's very soothing. It's an aesthetic fireplace, with new aesthetic value."
Swedish-style sofa chairs offer low comfortable seating right in front of the fireplace.
"This is a quiet zone by the fireplace, with chairs for moms and dads to relax," she said.
In fact, there are five zones of seating in the newly remodelled Massey Drive McDonald's. In addition to the large booths along the windows and the smaller, two-seat booths along the interior wall, there is a fast zone near the counter with small in-and-out tables.
Nearby is a community table where larger groups can gather and watch the plasma TV.
"They sit there, talk and have fun."
Then there is bistro-style seating along the north-facing windows near the counter. "A lot of single business people take coffee breaks here in the middle of the day," she said.
In addition, new seating has been placed in new arrangements in the Play Place. "Some new chairs have been provided for a quiet zone for Mom and Dad in there, too," O'Connor said.
The new interior design adds value to customers' dining experience, she continued. "Value is more than what you pay for," she said. "Today's consumers can go anywhere. Value is not only the price you pay, but the mood of the restaurant, the feel of the restaurant and the friendliness of the staff.
"Our staff are proud to have this supportive environment to work in."
The first McDonald's restaurant to be remodelled in this city was the Victoria Street location. The renovation work there was completed three years ago.
"When we first remodelled the Victoria Street restaurant, the people in the neighbourhood took considerable pride in it," O'Connor said. "The neighbourhood took ownership, and people there call it 'my McDonald's'. You do something to upgrade, and they appreciate it. We've been thanked by customers.
"One nine-year-old girl came in with her dad on Victoria Street, and she stopped and said, 'Wow, Dad, you could come here on a date.'"
The McDonald's at Spruceland was closed three years ago, and it was replaced with the City Gate McDonald's at 15th and the Bypass built in the new style. The Hart Highway location was also remodelled about three years ago, O'Connor said.
The College Heights location was renovated in September.
 |
|
Last Updated ( Friday, 21 November 2008 )
|
|
|
Who's Online
We have 67 guests and 6 members online
|
Subscribe to this comment's feed
