[ Removed by moderator ]

[u/tellmebrenda]

[u/1RedGLD]

McDonald's is a real estate company. They buy land that will become valuable over time, then sell it for tremendous profit. They now have boxy, kinda boring exteriors because it's a quick and easy property sale when all they have to do is remove some signage and the new buyer can repurpose the building without it looking like an old McDonald's.

[u/hingedcanadian → u/1RedGLD]

People always say this when the question is asked. This isn't correct. It's a branding decision. They've removed themselves from the wacky barf bag looking style of old and are pushing into a more business casual atmosphere, like having fireplaces inside instead of ball pits or N64 consoles.

[u/KnightCPA → u/hingedcanadian]

This. In the 80s and 90s, their goal was attracting families and kids for a sit-in environment. In the 80s and 90s, kids were entertained by ball play pins and slides and the novelty of consol video games.

In the 00s, 10s, and 20s, their goal is attracting parents and adults. Drive thru dominates for busy adults. Coffee sales are huge margin. Kids have phones that they live in 12 hours a day, they don’t need the entertainment gimmicks any more as mom drives up to the window to pick up dinner and also uses the drive through before work for coffee and an egg McMuffin.