mcdonalds to revamp stores

[Robin Garr]

Lipstick on a pig?

Wow, McDos may eventually inspire as much as Joe Muggs at Books-A-Million! Just think if Jean-Paul Sartre could have hung out at a McCafe instead of the Left Bank how more creative his works would have been. "Huit Clos" really would have been his own hell in the back of a McDos drinking hyper sweet smoothies and talking to families with their tennis shoes and UK baseball caps.

[Robin Garr]

Jean-Paul Sartre

Wow, McDos may eventually inspire as much as Joe Muggs at Books-A-Million! Just think if Jean-Paul Sartre could have hung out at a McCafe instead of the Left Bank how more creative his works would have been. "Huit Clos" really would have been his own hell in the back of a McDos drinking hyper sweet smoothies and talking to families with their tennis shoes and backward UK baseball caps.

Fixed.

Say what you want about MCD, I've been buying stock and would urge anyone else to as well. The Cafe style makeover concept has worked fantastically well in Europe, particularly France. They spent about a billion in Europe starting 3-4 years ago and Europe is now the number one revenue region. At peak hours it seems every MCD over here is packed and yes, there's probably a few budding philosophers in there tanking up caffeine and checking facebook. The coffee is pretty much Starbucks quality but 10-20% cheaper.

$1 billion in the U.S. is a drop in the bucket compared to potential returns. Urban and surburban outlets will profit most I think. You'll see a lot more Moms with kids in the renovated outlets, and a lot more wifi loungers. The way I see it, the more money I make with MCD shares, the more I can spend on food somewhere else.

Just my $0.02

They just completed makeovers on two of the stores close to us and they are both showing more business already. I think they are trying to be places to lounge, kinda like Panera is. Easy place to meet up with friends and catch up while grabbing a coffee drink.

McDonald's savvy marketing has kept it consistently at or near the top of the QSR pyramid for decades...some posters may look down their noses at McD as just another fast-food joint, but sometime during the noon hour - on virtually any day of the week - drive around and see how busy McDonald's are. They deliver a consistent product targeting mass consumers, and do it as well (or better) than their competitors. If this new concept clicks in the US (as it appears to have done in Europe), you can BET that competing QSR's will follow in their wake - as has usually been the case.

McDonald's savvy marketing has kept it consistently at or near the top of the QSR pyramid for decades...some posters may look down their noses at McD as just another fast-food joint, but sometime during the noon hour - on virtually any day of the week - drive around and see how busy McDonald's are. They deliver a consistent product targeting mass consumers, and do it as well (or better) than their competitors. If this new concept clicks in the US (as it appears to have done in Europe), you can BET that competing QSR's will follow in their wake - as has usually been the case.

I acknowledge the incredible success of McDonalds--who could argue this point? What they've done, they've done well. In fact, they are the best!

However, that does not mean I will go hang out at McDonalds to drink a coffee. I may swing thru the drive thru from time to time for a cold tea on a hot day. But that is the extent of it. I don't care how much "lipstick on the pig" they apply (thanks for the metaphor,Robin), they can't change the fact that they sell cheap burgers and fries and cater to a non-food aficionado crowd.

So let's not mix Big Macs with Whoppers here. Owning stock in Walmart. McDonalds, etc. is a business decision. Hanging out at McDonalds is a quality of life decision.

So I guess Mickey D's is going to no longer be child-oriented, then? Perhaps now they'll upgrade their menus accordingly?

families with their tennis shoes and UK baseball caps.

Ahh yes...the laughable fashion choices of the common man!

Let us take a moment to look down upon them from our respective pedestals. One cannot help but be disgusted, and yet at the same time somewhat amused by their questionable choices in footwear and haberdashery.

Sometimes I wish we could just get rid of all the poor. Of course I don't mean extermination, but if we could somehow just push them from view, so that they would not offend the delicate sensibilities of the more refined...

However, at the same time, perhaps it is good that there are those less fortunate and less "en vogue" than we, because sometimes, when I need a pick me up, their simple sad, ridiculous, uncouth presences serves as a reminder of just how great we are. If there is nobody "worse" than us, than we don't have any justification for perceiving ourselves as "better", and well, that's no fun!

It is quite the conundrum, but I suppose we can all agree that many an otherwise-delightful meal has been completely savaged by noticing another, less-thoughtful diner's choice in shoe.

families with their tennis shoes and UK baseball caps.

Ahh yes...the laughable fashion choices of the common man!

Let us take a moment to look down upon them from our respective pedestals. One cannot help but be disgusted, and yet at the same time somewhat amused by their questionable choices in footwear and haberdashery.

Sometimes I wish we could just get rid of all the poor. Of course I don't mean extermination, but if we could somehow just push them from view, so that they would not offend the delicate sensibilities of the more refined...

However, at the same time, perhaps it is good that there are those less fortunate and less "en vogue" than we, because sometimes, when I need a pick me up, their simple sad, ridiculous, uncouth presences serves as a reminder of just how great we are. If there is nobody "worse" than us, than we don't have any justification for perceiving ourselves as "better", and well, that's no fun!

It is quite the conundrum, but I suppose we can all agree that many an otherwise-delightful meal has been completely savaged by noticing another, less-thoughtful diner's choice in shoe.

Dan,
I'm a common man myself--bluejeans, t-shirt, simple shoes. This is the way you'll find me around town for the most part. My salary certainly is not one of an elitist. My reference to tennis shoes and caps is more cultural. If you go to a cafe in the Highlands or Crescent Hill, for example, there are less caps and tennies. People may even be shabbier, and most probably poorer. Let's face it, McDonalds is not a hip hangout and never will be unless they change their whole motif. You don't have to be rich to frequent Heinie Bros. or Java--au contraire. Just different objectives, mindset, and culture.

Bottom line: McDonalds for cheap eats; Heinie Bros et al for cafe culture.

Robin, is there a setting I can click here along the lines of "awaken me when the senseless McDonald's inanity ceases"? Thanks -- I have an appointment to go out and buy stock in things I don't believe in.

McD's does have the best Coke with or without ice. It's a feeding trough - but pretty darn consistent. I have not been in one in years and I've never been in Panera - doubt the makeover will woe me.

Bottom line: McDonalds for cheap eats; Heinie Bros et al for cafe culture.

Culture??? Huh? Not me. If I go to Heine Brothers, it's for the coffee. If I go to McD's, it's for a speedy Egg McConcoction. In either joint, I'm usually in and out.

Culture??? Huh? Not me. If I go to Heine Brothers, it's for the coffee. If I go to McD's, it's for a speedy Egg McConcoction. In either joint, I'm usually in and out.

Isn't it nice that we are all different and can do what we want? I guess in China it's not so much like this.....