Acadiana’s Fast-Food Giant Gets A McMakeover

The Advertiser:

A corporate redesign for McDonald’s restaurants is sweeping the nation, with a sleek look and relaxed atmosphere meant to draw back young adults lost to quiet coffee shops.

All 13,000 restaurants in the United States will eventually be made over. Half of those will get some upgrades by the end of 2006.

But local McDonald’s are ahead of the pack. Redesigns began in 2003 for 20 Acadiana restaurants owned by local franchisee Ed Krampe Sr., and his sons E.J. and Chris.
Nine of the local McDonald’s have been redesigned so far, at a cost of more than $8 million.

Some now reflect a Southern style with Cajun artwork. The most recent redesign, unveiled Oct. 28 on Johnston Street near the UL campus, sports a campus theme with Ragin’ Cajun athletic memorabilia.

Gone are most playlands at local McDonald’s, replaced by interactive video games.

Flourescent lighting has been replaced by softer, frosted lamps in the dining room.

Hard, plastic seats are now fitted with cushioning on the back. And seating layouts have evolved from a wide-open, cafeteria-style dining room, to include more mini-sections providing privacy for small groups.