Am I the only one who thinks some of these new McDonald's buildings are too ugly to buy food from? Ones that look like this:
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fupload.wikimedia.org%2Fwikipedia%2Fcommons%2F3%2F31%2FNew_McDonald%2527s_restaurant_in_Mount_Pleasant%2C_Iowa.jpg&hash=af08feb6eb307b76a03a5e003a74f4e1f582dfec)
I eat a lot of fast food since I don't spend much time at home and it seems you have to eat 8 cubic feet of unevenly cooked microwave food at work in order to barely reach the 500 calories necessary to keep you going the rest of the day. So, for me, having to reject certain McDonald's locations for being too ugly is a big deal. I actually don't mind the way they look on the inside; I just can't seem to bring myself to point my car in the direction of them.
Take away the arch signage over the roof line and it looks no different from a bank branch.
I like the use of "McDonald'ses." It sounds like something Gollum would say. I'm picturing him slinking around complaining about "nasty little McDonald'ses, spoiling nice fish. Give it to us raw and wriggling. You keep nasty chips."
I find it a bit generic, but it's a far cry better than the red sloped-roof style that places you firmly in 1977.
The plus side of this design is that the building could much more easily be re-purposed for another tenant if need be.
Ha they probably are a lot more Not Fooling Anybody-proof.
With apologies to Dave Berg–the building's ugly? Have you seen the food?
I have found a near zero correlation between outdoor aesthetics and food quality. If anything, the nicer a building is on the outside, the more generic food is on the inside.
I think the new Mcdonalds look fantastic. What's to hate about it? It follows modern-day architecture. They couldn't do the sloped roof forever.
Quote from: jake on September 05, 2014, 10:10:18 PM
I think the new Mcdonalds look fantastic. What's to hate about it? It follows modern-day architecture. They couldn't do the sloped roof forever.
Well, that's just it - modern-day design (not just architecture, but virtually everything, especially vehicles) is downright hideous. That said, I avoid McDonalds not because of what their new buildings look like, but rather because I don't like the food.
Quote from: Crazy Volvo Guy on September 05, 2014, 11:15:14 PM
Quote from: jake on September 05, 2014, 10:10:18 PM
I think the new Mcdonalds look fantastic. What's to hate about it? It follows modern-day architecture. They couldn't do the sloped roof forever.
Well, that's just it - modern-day design (not just architecture, but virtually everything, especially vehicles) is downright hideous. That said, I avoid McDonalds not because of what their new buildings look like, but rather because I don't like the food.
Okay, so let's forget the architecture, and focus solely on the food. We can both agree that, around the time Super-Size Me came out, McDonalds was at a low, right? The whole super-size option was the pinnacle of McDonalds' "eat as much as you can" phase.
If anything, McDonalds needed to shake its old image. What's a better way of going about doing that than changing the whole design of your restaurant to seem "airier" or "lighter"? Something more in line with pop-culture, yeah? They can keep the same food but at least give the illusion of health and well-being. That's smart business in a liberal society.
Perhaps McDonald's is trying to appear health-conscious by repelling people who might be tempted to eat there.
That building looks fine to me
Quote from pete from boston:
QuotePerhaps McDonald's is trying to appear health-conscious by repelling people who might be tempted to eat there.
If they really wanted to keep our the people that want to eat there, they should narrow the doorway slightly.
If I were inclined to ever go back to McDonald's again (I haven't been to one in 11 years), I'd have to prefer the one in the picture over the one with a sloped roof. That said, if you are basing your food choices on the architecture of the building you buy it in, something's not adding up.
Quote from: DandyDan on September 06, 2014, 01:21:43 AM
If I were inclined to ever go back to McDonald's again (I haven't been to one in 11 years), I'd have to prefer the one in the picture over the one with a sloped roof. That said, if you are basing your food choices on the architecture of the building you buy it in, something's not adding up.
It seems illogical, but it's the 'inviting' factor. They want to make people look at it and say "oh this place looks nice". If I'm in a town in the middle of nowhere, and the McDonalds looks like this, I would be inclined to go. Only because it looks like a nice, warm, clean place. You don't have to take any chances with any other restaurant, because you can count on a good experience right here and now.
Then again, if your personal experiences with McDonalds are less than pleasant, you might be more inclined to visit an independent restaurant.
Here some unusual architectural details used in some McDonalds here in Quebec when they're jouxted to a gas station.
This one in a rest area along with an Esso gas station on A-55 at Richmond http://goo.gl/maps/BGCQY
At Trois-Rivières on Jean XXIII Blvd along a Irving gas station http://goo.gl/maps/7ObHD
On PQ-220 in Sherbrooke along with a Petro-Canada station http://goo.gl/maps/TnX7X
On TCH-117 at Malartic along with a Ultramar gas station http://goo.gl/maps/kF2VI
Abd here on McDonalds in downtown Trois-Rivieres integrated to the fabric of the area http://goo.gl/maps/pjuau
McDonalds isn't alone, there's Burger King and Subway jouxted to a Petro-Canada station on Patriotes Road(PQ-133) http://goo.gl/maps/qAtwL
Quote from: DTComposer on September 05, 2014, 05:14:35 PM
I find it a bit generic, but it's a far cry better than the red sloped-roof style that places you firmly in 1977.
The plus side of this design is that the building could much more easily be re-purposed for another tenant if need be.
There have only been a
handful relatively small percentage of McDonalds' (as compared to the total number of restaurants in the chain) that have been closed and not re-opened on or close to the original site. In nearly all those cases, the closure was due to other than not making adequate profits or similar financial reasons (IIRC, in a couple of cases, a mass shooting occurred at or near the Mickey's, which was then demolished and the land then turned into a memorial park for the victims). And, in all the cases I am aware of, the building was demolished and not re-purposed.
Trivia note - The very first McDonalds that closed due to an utter lack of profitability was in Central Square, Lynn (MA). It was part of the less than successful Union Street walkway project that was completed in the late 1970s. Inspired by the 1976 Downtown Crossing project in Boston, the project involved closing off Union Street, which was one of the main shopping districts in Lynn. Closing off the street only accelerated the closing of most of the businesses. In the case of the Mickeys', most people chose not to eat there because of issues with transients who would order a cup of coffee and sit there most of the day.
A few years after Union Street was closed off to traffic, it was re-opened. Didn't help the downtown economic picture one bit.
Quote from: roadman on September 08, 2014, 01:20:02 PM
Quote from: DTComposer on September 05, 2014, 05:14:35 PM
I find it a bit generic, but it's a far cry better than the red sloped-roof style that places you firmly in 1977.
The plus side of this design is that the building could much more easily be re-purposed for another tenant if need be.
There have only been a handful of McDonalds' that have been closed and not re-opened on or close to the original site. In nearly all those cases, the closure was due to other than financial reasons (IIRC, in a couple of cases, a mass shooting occured at or near the Mickey's, which was then demolished and the land then turned into a memorial park for the victims). And, in all the cases I am aware of, the building was demolished and not re-purposed.
https://www.google.com/maps/@41.6181162,-71.4580388,3a,46y,266.05h,90.03t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1sx3ubDRFOemfLbkyeDJBUYg!2e0!6m1!1e1
From my hometown of North Kingstown, RI. As you can see in this Sept 2012 GSV image, the mansard roof was reconstructed so that the building was not obviously a former McD's.
Rumor has it McD's closed at this location because they were going to require an extensive septic/sewer upgrade. They did not re-open a new location in North Kingstown.
https://www.google.com/maps/@41.9119187,-71.3623523,3a,84.4y,297.54h,83.87t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1sCOpFiclFK6H70DOEZmCmLw!2e0!6m1!1e1
Attleboro, MA. Once again the roof was changed, but I believe the building was mostly left the same. The restaurant maintains a takeout counter on the left side that is pretty close to the McD's configuration. The dining room on the right side is completely reconfigured, and features sit-down service...and pretty good food to boot!
This McD's was replaced with a new location slightly north on US 1.
A lot of the remodels end up looking like or similar to the OP's picture. One past Dallas-area franchisee actually had wood accents and mini-chandeliers in the interiors of some of his restaurants.
One of the more wacky remodels, this location in north Dallas off I-635
south side of the building: http://goo.gl/maps/UY5Yy
north side of the building: http://goo.gl/maps/9Rzmc
has, yes, the play area looking like a happy meal box, a spinning McD's sign, yellow arches holding up the canopy over where the car orders in the drive-thru, inlaid lights blinking down the drive-thru lane, tacked-on McDonaldland characters on the side of the building, black marble sinks and accents in the bathrooms, >sigh<, I could go on. I used to work down the street from this McD's and people would come to my store asking me where the happy meal McDonald's was. I got that a lot.
It actually replaced a very very dated slope-roof location that was largely white/light blue/beige; a kitchen fire closed the location, and within weeks, demolition was on and the rebuild became what the Google Street View shows.
Are there any McDonalds' that still have the building in the original look & shape?
Back in the mid-80s, there was one along MA 38 near I-495 in Lowell that still featured the old retro 50's look (red & white tile with arches on each side of the building). It currently no longer sports that look.
I've seen retro rebuilds that have the arches on each side of the building, but I can't imagine there are any left that still have it from the 50s.
I really like the sloped roof buildings. They remind me of the appearance of a train station.
This may seem silly, but I miss the play places that were in the buildings back in the 90's. Not that I can use them now, but I've found them very useful on a rainy day hanging out with young mom friends at Chik-fil-a. My friend and I can have a good long conversation to ourselves while the kids play. My guess as to why they got rid of them was because they "lured" children into wanting/eating fast food. Also, now that we're starting to get more health-conscientious as a society, people are avoid fast food when they can.
ETA: The McDonalds just off of I-95 exit 77 A in Edgewood, MD caught on fire about 10-15 years ago and was never replaced. My guess is because there are two other McDonalds locations close by - one off of exit 77 B (which is more difficult to access from 95 but is near all of the big box stores) and off of Route 40 in Edgewood. The burned down Mickey Dees was replaced with a small strip shopping center.
iPhone
Quote from: Laura on September 10, 2014, 07:54:43 AM
My guess as to why they got rid of them was because they "lured" children into wanting/eating fast food.
They're also a huge liability and a nightmare to keep clean.
Quote from: DaBigE on September 10, 2014, 09:37:13 AM
Quote from: Laura on September 10, 2014, 07:54:43 AM
My guess as to why they got rid of them was because they "lured" children into wanting/eating fast food.
They're also a huge liability and a nightmare to keep clean.
That may be true, but that doesn't stop many of my local fast food franchises from having them. Three or four of the closest McDonalds have jungle gyms and so does the Burger King. The Burger King jungle gym was amazing when I was a kid. It was like 4 stories tall (look on the right of the photo...ignore the apparent premise of the photo):
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.ytimg.com%2Fvi%2F3kTOS37UfFY%2F0.jpg&hash=a4197ecfc6e83710e560c9f7ecf827331037c49f)
And here's a location in Williamsburg, VA that opened in 2009...with a jungle gym!
(https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8059/8197272399_e35ae144b3.jpg)
McD's has also refocused it's efforts on selling coffee, selling food to people who are eating alone and on retirees that lost their local diner-type spots due to the decreasing profitability of sit-down restaurants without liquor licenses.
You know it is not just McMac's as we all know, as posted previously, as KFC, Taco Bell, and even Wendy's are all changing the facade of their stores. In fact KFC in Waterbridge Downs Plaza in Orlando, FL actually tore the old building down and built a new one from the ground up.
It seems like we live in the time where new is the thing whether its road signs, ball parks, or restaurants.
In Hillsborough, there's a Burger King less than 2 minutes away from my house that has been closed for nearly a year now (if not more) to completely re-do the building. The result? Well, I'll tell you this: My craving for a Whopper has been astronomically high since it closed.
You have not seen the McDonalds on Sand Lake Road and I Drive in Orlando. The building was expanded so many times over that you can see the original building buried beneath the new additions.
Believe me you would not have a desire to want a Big Mac either if you drove by here.
If you think the McDonaldses are bad, you should go inside Wendy's. I almost feel like I need to put on a tuxedo when I go into one.
Wendy's is for girls.
Quote from: roadman65 on September 12, 2014, 03:27:20 PMIt seems like we live in the time where new is the thing whether its road signs, ball parks, or restaurants.
Indeed, you say this like it's a
bad thing. Out with the old in with the new, as the saying from time immemorial goes. One can fight it, but in the end you can't stop time/ progress.
On Topic: McDonald's new and re-imaged stores are a hell of a lot better then the old cheap wallpaper and plastic booth motif. IMHO
To the levels it's taken today, it is. Replacing old with new if new is better is a good thing, but these days want new for the sake of new even if old is better. Just look at the smartphone/tablet frenzy and the subsequent dumbing-down of computing that not even desktop PCs are immune to, or the insistence on putting a computer in everything (for example, it is now impossible to dispose of a copier without risking the leak of private information due to the fact that they include hard drives and store every copy ever made, or the fact that cars get more vulnerable to hacking every year).
Quote from: GCrites80s on September 19, 2014, 05:49:27 PM
Wendy's is for girls.
Smack my ass and call me Susan.
I'll enjoy my food rather than worry about aesthetics.
I have a new Wendy's near my house and already its being gutted for a new store. Many Wendy's have changed the font on its logo and are now changing the facades on each building little by little. I kind of like the new look, but everything is going overboard.
Quote from: on_wisconsin on September 20, 2014, 10:35:41 AM
Quote from: roadman65 on September 12, 2014, 03:27:20 PMIt seems like we live in the time where new is the thing whether its road signs, ball parks, or restaurants.
Indeed, you say this like it's a bad thing. Out with the old in with the new, as the saying from time immemorial goes. One can fight it, but in the end you can't stop time/ progress.
On Topic: McDonald's new and re-imaged stores are a hell of a lot better then the old cheap wallpaper and plastic booth motif. IMHO
Actually I am, but not that much as to pick it the streets, but for many years road signs have existed and never been changed. Now in many places, like take DE for example with how many times signs have been changed in the past twenty years on the 295 and 95 freeways, when in the previous 30 years prior the same signs stood with no need to change.
Thank God for the traditional fans of the Chicago Cubs or Wrigley Field would be a memory. If you are a true sports fan, then you would know that a Ball Park is part of sports nostalgia and they are just as part of history as the teams and players. In Orlando we needed the new Amway Centre like we need a hole in our heads! The old Amway was only 22 years old when demolished and it served its purpose of being a great home for the Orlando Magic. If it ain't broke then don't fix it!
Quote from: PHLBOS on September 09, 2014, 03:04:37 PM
Are there any McDonalds' that still have the building in the original look & shape?
Back in the mid-80s, there was one along MA 38 near I-495 in Lowell that still featured the old retro 50's look (red & white tile with arches on each side of the building). It currently no longer sports that look.
There really is a Wikipedia article for everything (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oldest_McDonald's_restaurant).
FYI, the current building style is officially called "Forever Young"; retail enthusiasts have nicknamed it the "Eyebrow of Doom".
Quote from: roadman65 on September 20, 2014, 01:19:17 PM
If you are a true sports fan, then you would know that a Ball Park is part of sports nostalgia and they are just as part of history as the teams and players.
True,
but the majority of baseball parks built in the last 20 years have replaced mostly non-historic concrete dumps such as Three Rivers Stadium, Veterans Stadium, Cinergy Field (Riverfront), Busch Stadium II, the Metrodome, King Dome, Qualcomm Stadium, Shea, Fulton County Stadium, etc.
McDonald's has got a bunch of road enthusiasts talking about their restaurant designs. Every time someone refreshes the off topic forum they briefly think about McDonald's.
This is why McDonald's spent the money to rebuild their restaurants.
Quote from: roadman65 on September 20, 2014, 01:19:17 PM
I have a new Wendy's near my house and already its being gutted for a new store. Many Wendy's have changed the font on its logo and are now changing the facades on each building little by little. I kind of like the new look, but everything is going overboard.
Quote from: on_wisconsin on September 20, 2014, 10:35:41 AM
Quote from: roadman65 on September 12, 2014, 03:27:20 PMIt seems like we live in the time where new is the thing whether its road signs, ball parks, or restaurants.
Indeed, you say this like it's a bad thing. Out with the old in with the new, as the saying from time immemorial goes. One can fight it, but in the end you can't stop time/ progress.
On Topic: McDonald's new and re-imaged stores are a hell of a lot better then the old cheap wallpaper and plastic booth motif. IMHO
Actually I am, but not that much as to pick it the streets, but for many years road signs have existed and never been changed. Now in many places, like take DE for example with how many times signs have been changed in the past twenty years on the 295 and 95 freeways, when in the previous 30 years prior the same signs stood with no need to change.
Thank God for the traditional fans of the Chicago Cubs or Wrigley Field would be a memory. If you are a true sports fan, then you would know that a Ball Park is part of sports nostalgia and they are just as part of history as the teams and players. In Orlando we needed the new Amway Centre like we need a hole in our heads! The old Amway was only 22 years old when demolished and it served its purpose of being a great home for the Orlando Magic. If it ain't broke then don't fix it!
Tell that to the Braves, who are replacing a park that was opened in 1997!!
Quote from: on_wisconsin on September 20, 2014, 01:40:45 PM
Quote from: roadman65 on September 20, 2014, 01:19:17 PM
If you are a true sports fan, then you would know that a Ball Park is part of sports nostalgia and they are just as part of history as the teams and players.
True, but the majority of baseball parks built in the last 20 years have replaced mostly non-historic concrete dumps such as Three Rivers Stadium, Veterans Stadium, Cinergy Field (Riverfront), Busch Stadium II, the Metrodome, King Dome, Qualcomm Stadium, Shea, Fulton County Stadium, etc.
This. It genuinely pains me that so many young stadiums have been replaced. The Romans could build a stadium that has lasted 2000 years and we start replacing them after 20 years. However, knowing that most of them were bland, concrete doughnuts unsuitable for either baseball or football makes me feel a bit better about the situation.
What doesn't make me feel better is the way taxpayers are held hostage into paying for stadiums and are still paying them off after they've been demolished. Teams should pony up the costs for stadiums themselves.
I'd like to hope that we won't be massively rebuilding this generation of stadiums.
iPhone
Demolishing Yankee Stadium and rebuilding it in the parking lot was a stupid idea. I also hated that Tiger Stadium was demolished for the sake of revitalizing Downtown Detroit (at the expense of hurting Corktown). Between those two stadiums, so much baseball history went up in smoke.
Quote from: The Nature Boy on September 21, 2014, 10:30:14 PM
Demolishing Yankee Stadium and rebuilding it in the city park baseball field was a stupid idea. I also hated that Tiger Stadium was demolished for the sake of revitalizing Downtown Detroit (at the expense of hurting Corktown). Between those two stadiums, so much baseball history went up in smoke.
FTFY.
Tiger Stadium provided the most satisfying game-watching experience I've had in a major league park. The cheap seats were great.
Look up "Navin Field Grounds Crew." The site of Tiger Stadium is still kind of a bright light in that neighborhood.
Quote from: Pete from Boston on September 21, 2014, 11:34:28 PM
Quote from: The Nature Boy on September 21, 2014, 10:30:14 PM
Demolishing Yankee Stadium and rebuilding it in the city park baseball field was a stupid idea. I also hated that Tiger Stadium was demolished for the sake of revitalizing Downtown Detroit (at the expense of hurting Corktown). Between those two stadiums, so much baseball history went up in smoke.
FTFY.
Tiger Stadium provided the most satisfying game-watching experience I've had in a major league park. The cheap seats were great.
Look up "Navin Field Grounds Crew." The site of Tiger Stadium is still kind of a bright light in that neighborhood.
Been there and walked around the grounds. It's a sad situation.
I've met Michiganders who defend the decision by saying "Oh Comerica is a great park." I've been to Comerica and it is a great ballpark but it lacks the history of Tiger Stadium.
Quote from: on_wisconsin on September 20, 2014, 10:35:41 AM
On Topic: McDonald's new and re-imaged stores are a hell of a lot better then the old cheap wallpaper and plastic booth motif. IMHO
I've been to some in Wyoming that are awesome... the one in Evanston has fountains and is quite pretty.
Quote from: Scott5114 on September 20, 2014, 05:56:56 PM
McDonald's has got a bunch of road enthusiasts talking about their restaurant designs. Every time someone refreshes the off topic forum they briefly think about McDonald's.
This is why McDonald's spent the money to rebuild their restaurants.
Yes! Product Placement!
Quote from: The Nature Boy on September 21, 2014, 11:53:15 PM
Quote from: Pete from Boston on September 21, 2014, 11:34:28 PM
Quote from: The Nature Boy on September 21, 2014, 10:30:14 PM
Demolishing Yankee Stadium and rebuilding it in the city park baseball field was a stupid idea. I also hated that Tiger Stadium was demolished for the sake of revitalizing Downtown Detroit (at the expense of hurting Corktown). Between those two stadiums, so much baseball history went up in smoke.
FTFY.
Tiger Stadium provided the most satisfying game-watching experience I've had in a major league park. The cheap seats were great.
Look up "Navin Field Grounds Crew." The site of Tiger Stadium is still kind of a bright light in that neighborhood.
Been there and walked around the grounds. It's a sad situation.
I've met Michiganders who defend the decision by saying "Oh Comerica is a great park." I've been to Comerica and it is a great ballpark but it lacks the history of Tiger Stadium.
Yep. The absence of these two stadiums is quite sad to me.
I miss Baltimore's Memorial Stadium being such a presence in the Waverly neighborhood. They've built some really nice senior housing and a Y there, but it's not the same.
iPhone
Quote from: Laura on September 22, 2014, 08:54:38 AM
Quote from: The Nature Boy on September 21, 2014, 11:53:15 PM
Quote from: Pete from Boston on September 21, 2014, 11:34:28 PM
Quote from: The Nature Boy on September 21, 2014, 10:30:14 PM
Demolishing Yankee Stadium and rebuilding it in the city park baseball field was a stupid idea. I also hated that Tiger Stadium was demolished for the sake of revitalizing Downtown Detroit (at the expense of hurting Corktown). Between those two stadiums, so much baseball history went up in smoke.
FTFY.
Tiger Stadium provided the most satisfying game-watching experience I've had in a major league park. The cheap seats were great.
Look up "Navin Field Grounds Crew." The site of Tiger Stadium is still kind of a bright light in that neighborhood.
Been there and walked around the grounds. It's a sad situation.
I've met Michiganders who defend the decision by saying "Oh Comerica is a great park." I've been to Comerica and it is a great ballpark but it lacks the history of Tiger Stadium.
Yep. The absence of these two stadiums is quite sad to me.
I miss Baltimore's Memorial Stadium being such a presence in the Waverly neighborhood. They've built some really nice senior housing and a Y there, but it's not the same.
iPhone
It kind of brings into question for me the whole idea of putting a stadium in downtown. Sure, it helps to revitalize it but it also helps to economically bring down another part of your city. Detroit already had Ford Field in their downtown, I don't think Comerica added enough to warrant tearing down Tiger Stadium. Now with the Joe going down and the Red Wings moving downtown, Detroit's downtown is basically becoming the "Illitch Family Sports Complex." You can never convince me that tearing down Tiger Stadium was the right thing to do. Even if you use the excuse that it had fallen into disrepair, they could've closed done what was done with Fenway and slowly renovate it over a decade.
Detroit basically sacrificed Corktown and a large chunk of their history to somehow revitalize downtown. It's a weird bit of urban planning.
Quote from: The Nature Boy on September 22, 2014, 09:02:30 AM
Quote from: Laura on September 22, 2014, 08:54:38 AM
Quote from: The Nature Boy on September 21, 2014, 11:53:15 PM
Quote from: Pete from Boston on September 21, 2014, 11:34:28 PM
Quote from: The Nature Boy on September 21, 2014, 10:30:14 PM
Demolishing Yankee Stadium and rebuilding it in the city park baseball field was a stupid idea. I also hated that Tiger Stadium was demolished for the sake of revitalizing Downtown Detroit (at the expense of hurting Corktown). Between those two stadiums, so much baseball history went up in smoke.
FTFY.
Tiger Stadium provided the most satisfying game-watching experience I've had in a major league park. The cheap seats were great.
Look up "Navin Field Grounds Crew." The site of Tiger Stadium is still kind of a bright light in that neighborhood.
Been there and walked around the grounds. It's a sad situation.
I've met Michiganders who defend the decision by saying "Oh Comerica is a great park." I've been to Comerica and it is a great ballpark but it lacks the history of Tiger Stadium.
Yep. The absence of these two stadiums is quite sad to me.
I miss Baltimore's Memorial Stadium being such a presence in the Waverly neighborhood. They've built some really nice senior housing and a Y there, but it's not the same.
iPhone
It kind of brings into question for me the whole idea of putting a stadium in downtown. Sure, it helps to revitalize it but it also helps to economically bring down another part of your city. Detroit already had Ford Field in their downtown, I don't think Comerica added enough to warrant tearing down Tiger Stadium. Now with the Joe going down and the Red Wings moving downtown, Detroit's downtown is basically becoming the "Illitch Family Sports Complex." You can never convince me that tearing down Tiger Stadium was the right thing to do. Even if you use the excuse that it had fallen into disrepair, they could've closed done what was done with Fenway and slowly renovate it over a decade.
Detroit basically sacrificed Corktown and a large chunk of their history to somehow revitalize downtown. It's a weird bit of urban planning.
Baltimore is not the best example for this because it was the archetype. It worked very well here to move the Orioles to Camden Yards and to built M&T Bank Stadium next to it when the Ravens moved to town. Yes, it did remove baseball from Waverly, which changed its neighborhood, but the benefits downtown can't be argued.
I can't speak for other cities at this time, but I can probably give a better answer by the end of the semester.
iPhone
Here's an Eyebrow of Doom sans eyebrow. I don't know what's going on with the building. It's in East Memphis.
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3730/9431460338_dc9611fc0f_s.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/fnqGz9)McDonald's (Oakhaven in east Memphis): Giant missing eyebrow of doom (https://flic.kr/p/fnqGz9) by l_dawg2000 (https://www.flickr.com/people/84564926@N03/), on Flickr
Quote from: Laura on September 22, 2014, 09:50:24 AM
Quote from: The Nature Boy on September 22, 2014, 09:02:30 AM
Quote from: Laura on September 22, 2014, 08:54:38 AM
Quote from: The Nature Boy on September 21, 2014, 11:53:15 PM
Quote from: Pete from Boston on September 21, 2014, 11:34:28 PM
Quote from: The Nature Boy on September 21, 2014, 10:30:14 PM
Demolishing Yankee Stadium and rebuilding it in the city park baseball field was a stupid idea. I also hated that Tiger Stadium was demolished for the sake of revitalizing Downtown Detroit (at the expense of hurting Corktown). Between those two stadiums, so much baseball history went up in smoke.
FTFY.
Tiger Stadium provided the most satisfying game-watching experience I've had in a major league park. The cheap seats were great.
Look up "Navin Field Grounds Crew." The site of Tiger Stadium is still kind of a bright light in that neighborhood.
Been there and walked around the grounds. It's a sad situation.
I've met Michiganders who defend the decision by saying "Oh Comerica is a great park." I've been to Comerica and it is a great ballpark but it lacks the history of Tiger Stadium.
Yep. The absence of these two stadiums is quite sad to me.
I miss Baltimore's Memorial Stadium being such a presence in the Waverly neighborhood. They've built some really nice senior housing and a Y there, but it's not the same.
iPhone
It kind of brings into question for me the whole idea of putting a stadium in downtown. Sure, it helps to revitalize it but it also helps to economically bring down another part of your city. Detroit already had Ford Field in their downtown, I don't think Comerica added enough to warrant tearing down Tiger Stadium. Now with the Joe going down and the Red Wings moving downtown, Detroit's downtown is basically becoming the "Illitch Family Sports Complex." You can never convince me that tearing down Tiger Stadium was the right thing to do. Even if you use the excuse that it had fallen into disrepair, they could've closed done what was done with Fenway and slowly renovate it over a decade.
Detroit basically sacrificed Corktown and a large chunk of their history to somehow revitalize downtown. It's a weird bit of urban planning.
Baltimore is not the best example for this because it was the archetype. It worked very well here to move the Orioles to Camden Yards and to built M&T Bank Stadium next to it when the Ravens moved to town. Yes, it did remove baseball from Waverly, which changed its neighborhood, but the benefits downtown can't be argued.
I can't speak for other cities at this time, but I can probably give a better answer by the end of the semester.
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There's a lot to be said for Oriole Park but if it's the archetype, it's not really the prototype. While it's tasteful, considered, and relevant to its surroundings, many of the buildings it begat are sort of ugly hulks dressed up in brick and painted steel, looking often like a big lumpy adult wearing children's clothes to look cute. Modern sports facilities often have more common lineage with shopping malls than with Tiger Stadium or Shibe Park.
Quote from: GCrites80s on October 13, 2014, 11:57:10 AM
Here's an Eyebrow of Doom sans eyebrow. I don't know what's going on with the building. It's in East Memphis.
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3730/9431460338_dc9611fc0f_s.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/fnqGz9)McDonald's (Oakhaven in east Memphis): Giant missing eyebrow of doom (https://flic.kr/p/fnqGz9) by l_dawg2000 (https://www.flickr.com/people/84564926@N03/), on Flickr
Is it finished? There are McDonald's in some towns (Newton, Mass., Sturbridge, and someplace on the Cape come to mind) that don't allow the big electric signage on the older stores. I could see the "eyebrow" being restricted away there. Some of these places have a
wooden sign with a light shining upon it.
The inside of the new McDonald's that has been built close to me (in Meridianville, AL) looks like something straight out of the 70's. I think it is hideous.
As of recently, this McDonald's in Muscle Shoals, AL still has a classic arch, but I'm not sure if it is original: https://www.google.com/maps/@34.746778,-87.6676565,3a,75y,62.25h,89.12t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1sI1N3Ce77N-6kt_UAFlTugA!2e0
Ah, McDicks! The place where you get your nuggets made from a disgusting chicken paste, the beef is zapped with poo, and the drinks are high in acid.
Quote from: codyg1985 on October 21, 2014, 10:04:17 PM
The inside of the new McDonald's that has been built close to me (in Meridianville, AL) looks like something straight out of the 70's. I think it is hideous.
As of recently, this McDonald's in Muscle Shoals, AL still has a classic arch, but I'm not sure if it is original: https://www.google.com/maps/@34.746778,-87.6676565,3a,75y,62.25h,89.12t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1sI1N3Ce77N-6kt_UAFlTugA!2e0
That's a late '90s design. There's ones like that on the South Side and at Easton in Columbus OH.
Speaking of ugly, I'm eager to see how the nutrient recycling program has progressed:
http://youtu.be/ZP_nNemsNT8
Quote from: codyg1985 on October 21, 2014, 10:04:17 PM
The inside of the new McDonald's that has been built close to me (in Meridianville, AL) looks like something straight out of the 70's. I think it is hideous.
There was one in Huntsville that until a few years ago had an old school McDonald's sign.
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As of recently, this McDonald's in Muscle Shoals, AL still has a classic arch, but I'm not sure if it is original: https://www.google.com/maps/@34.746778,-87.6676565,3a,75y,62.25h,89.12t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1sI1N3Ce77N-6kt_UAFlTugA!2e0
There is one in Mobile with that same style.
As for me it has been nearly a year since I have stepped foot in a McDonald's (the one in the Walmart that I work in doesn't count).
Quote from: Billy F 1988 on October 22, 2014, 10:25:09 AM
Ah, McDicks! The place where you get your nuggets made from a disgusting chicken paste, the beef is zapped with poo, and the drinks are high in acid.
Anybody else remember the 1960s parody of the original McDonald's jingle
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McDonalds is your kind of place
They serve you rattlesnakes
They throw pies in your face
They steal your license plates
So if you like rattlesnakes
Or pies thrown in your face
Or stolen license plates
Then McDonalds is your kind of place
When I think "McDonald's" and "1960s," this frightening image is the first thing that comes to mind:
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.ytimg.com%2Fvi%2FNPNKsgwj8aQ%2Fhqdefault.jpg&hash=0519c8c95d7fa606433fc6a8b1f6c111c6da0a19)
Quote from: Pete from Boston on October 24, 2014, 06:36:30 PM
When I think "McDonald's" and "1960s," this frightening image is the first thing that comes to mind:
It's like some weird sci-fi film from the 40s...genuinely frightening in retrospect, but maybe cool when it came out?
Quote from: jake on October 25, 2014, 03:11:01 AM
Quote from: Pete from Boston on October 24, 2014, 06:36:30 PM
When I think "McDonald's" and "1960s," this frightening image is the first thing that comes to mind:
It's like some weird sci-fi film from the 40s...genuinely frightening in retrospect, but maybe cool when it came out?
I look at Willard Scott as Ronald McDonald and think,
"Run, kids. RUN!"
I ate in an Eyebrow of Doom. Man was it ugly. They had a TV on showing the NASCAR race, but it had a ton of glare on that so it kinda ruined it. Will still try to avoid Eyebrows of Doom in the future, but there really are a lot of them getting built.
Quote from: GCrites80s on November 10, 2014, 02:30:01 PM
I ate in an Eyebrow of Doom. Man was it ugly. They had a TV on showing the NASCAR race, but it had a ton of glare on that so it kinda ruined it. Will still try to avoid Eyebrows of Doom in the future, but there really are a lot of them getting built.
The number of them built will soon equal the number of McDonald's restaurants.
Some of the design choices are odd. In one I saw a round table in a dark-wood alcove with a pendant light with a shade, like it was in some kind of cocktail lounge. The same restaurant had a too-tall, all-galvanized pergola ringing a concrete patio for what had to be the coldest-feeling eating environment designed since the Berlin Wall fell.
Oh and I hate high stools in fast food places. A lot of Eyebrows of Doom have a mix of high stools, regular booths and chairs. Stools like that belong in bars and I've noticed that you rarely see them in actual use by fast food patrons.
Quote from: GCrites80s on November 10, 2014, 03:14:47 PM
Oh and I hate high stools in fast food places. A lot of Eyebrows of Doom have a mix of high stools, regular booths and chairs. Stools like that belong in bars and I've noticed that you rarely see them in actual use by fast food patrons.
It's funny you say that, because in that same McDonald's I was in the other day, I took note of the fact that the high-tops were all filled while there were most of the other seats around the restaurant were open.
Perhaps there is a regionality to the interest in high tops that McDonald's failed to notice.
Quote from: GCrites80s on November 10, 2014, 04:20:02 PM
Perhaps there is a regionality to the interest in high tops that McDonald's failed to notice.
Could be. I remember some restaurants in the 1970s/1980s having specialized seating sections that always filled up first, like one with a sort of 70s-Victorian gazebo within one.
Or people wanting to sit in the middle part that was elevated by a step or two. Presumably to watch the other partons. Nowadays restaurants don't have those.
Quote from: GCrites80s on November 10, 2014, 08:21:29 PM
Or people wanting to sit in the middle part that was elevated by a step or two. Presumably to watch the other partons. Nowadays restaurants don't have those.
Ignoring the fact that you probably mean "recently constructed", all of my local Arbys have raised dining areas.
True; in this case I was talking sit-down since it seemed the discussion had shifted to that.
Quote from: GCrites80s on November 12, 2014, 01:41:44 PM
True; in this case I was talking sit-down since it seemed the discussion had shifted to that.
Indeed, it did. And you're right, new restaurants don't seem to have any particular special eating areas (raised areas and the like). The coolest thing I've seen recently is at some of the McDonalds, where some of the contemporary furniture kind of overhangs the chairs, so it feels like you're eating in a cocoon of sorts. Strange, I know, but it's cool to sit under.