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Eat & Drink

McDonald's Gets a Makeover

Posted by Tim / December 19, 2009

McDonald's Queen SpadinaNormally the sight of a McDonald's getting a little update doesn't make me pause, but when the McDonald's in question is the once derelict one at the corner of Queen and Spadina - and once home to one of the chain's only walk up windows - it's almost cause for a celebratory milk shake and baked apple pie.

Earlier this week there was some buzz that the revamped restaurant was going to be a green location. No, not one with a roof garden and sustainable Filet-O-Fish, but instead a green sign, based on a new brand colour palette being tested in Europe.

Alas, it appears that's not the case. But at this bustling but dreary intersection (two banks and a Letteri), at least now we have a fast food restaurant that's less of an eyesore. A contemporary grey slate exterior blankets the whole thing (and, yes, gone is the walk up window). But inside, things get a lot brighter with funky lights and squiggly things on the walls. Makes for a happy meal indeed.

Discussion

22 Comments

alex / December 19, 2009 at 05:25 pm
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Must be a slow day at the office.
Mike W / December 19, 2009 at 05:37 pm
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Well, it IS a Saturday days before Xmas.
chris / December 19, 2009 at 05:41 pm
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classy!!!

do they take reservations?
Dan / December 19, 2009 at 05:46 pm
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I love this blog - but who cares about McDonalds decor at one location?
And why aren't they selling sustainable filet-o-fish yet?
serena / December 19, 2009 at 06:00 pm
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they should've done this years ago.
sarah / December 19, 2009 at 06:06 pm
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I saw a man peeing on the walk-up window earlier this month. Removing it seems like a smart idea.
Adam Sobolak / December 19, 2009 at 06:14 pm
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Speaking of urine-soaked locations, does the Queen + Roncy McD's still have a walk-up window? (And I hope that doesn't get *too* made-over, considering the vestiges of the streamlined bus terminal of old.)
Kenny / December 19, 2009 at 09:18 pm
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Yay... more drab sterile grey.

Forget apple pies... it's all about those super-tasty S'more pies! I hope they keep'em permanently!
Gary / December 19, 2009 at 11:45 pm
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More grey in this city? Isn't winter depressing enough without making every single new condo and building ubiquitous GREY!
W.J.A Franklin / December 20, 2009 at 12:43 am
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Well, it can't all be OCADs and ROM Crystals.
Clueless / December 20, 2009 at 01:18 am
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What a clever and newsworthy story. I think you should make this Tim fellow your new Editor-in-Chief.
Mitchell / December 20, 2009 at 04:34 am
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Yes. Heaven forbid somebody report on things that are changing in the city.
BMCD replying to a comment from Mitchell / December 20, 2009 at 09:43 am
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Interesting to see all the diparaging comments on McDonald's. Just about everyone I talk to about McDonald's says the food is crap and thus avoids eating there. Yet, it is the most successful restaurant franchise in the world by a MASSIVE margin! Hmmm....interesting.

Well, I am a shareholder of McDonald's. All I can say is that I am fine with people who make fun of McDonald's- just keep going there time after time after time! I'll use my profit to eat at the fine restaurants you guys all say you go to all the time!
SK / December 20, 2009 at 02:00 pm
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good story, whether we like it or not franchises contribute to the urban fabric, and it's always interesting to see how they change, small changes in McDonald's look are not done lightly, they are probably the result of a lot of market studies and focus groups..
sulkth / December 20, 2009 at 06:02 pm
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The MCD at Runnymede and Bloor used to have a walkup window too
o_O replying to a comment from Clueless / December 20, 2009 at 11:06 pm
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If only Tim wasn't already the EIC/publisher/owner/whatever. BlogTO is suffering form some serious suckage lately. Even Rick McWhatever is sucking recently, and he'd been pretty great for few articles he filed here.
uptown / December 21, 2009 at 03:42 am
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Even the smallest change to the infamous M logo is huge since mcd's is one of the biggest companies in the world! Quite newsworthy in my opinion.
harmless / December 21, 2009 at 07:32 am
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looks kinda like the nørrebro mcd's in copenhagen. i hope ours gets the crazy designer furniture too!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/21929204@N00/2022964923/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ibens/3639398072/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rasmuscph/1350742140/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dltq/1351767544/
MrPotatoHead / December 21, 2009 at 08:24 am
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Walk up window? And I've been walking in and ordering all this time! What a fool I've been!
uhh / December 21, 2009 at 01:58 pm
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the walk-up window's been sealed off for years.
George / December 22, 2009 at 11:47 am
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I like the new look. Have you seen the one on Bayview & Eglinton and along Danforth just east of Coxwell? Very bold but great look.
Some Person / December 22, 2009 at 03:53 pm
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Hey I know that guy! Look at his coolness!

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