A new McDonald’s test concept west of Fort Worth is McTrying something new.
The location at 8540 West Freeway in White Settlement (above) has no dining tables because, as you can see above the front door, it’s for “Take Away” only. Considerably smaller than traditional McDonald’s restaurants, the location is tailored for customers who plan to pound down their fries back home—or in their cars on the go.
Big differences are visible inside and out.
Inside, a delivery pick-up room allows couriers working for apps like GrubHub or DoorDash to snag orders fast. Regular customers will find kiosks where they can place to-go orders, and a shelf to grab their order when it’s ready.
Outside, there are dedicated parking spots for delivery drivers, along with with several more for people making curbside order pick-ups.
App-driven ‘Order Ahead Lane’
Picking up an order from the conveyor belt of the McDonalds test concept. [Photo: McDonald’s]
If you want to order ahead of time at this test concept, there’s an app for that. The location’s Order Ahead Lane leverages “advanced technology” that takes app-based orders so they can be ready when customers arrive. A food-and-beverage conveyer slides orders to hungry customers, while a “new kitchen format” streamlines operations for the team inside.
Keith Vanecek, the franchisee who operates the test restaurant, says the new tech helps things go faster and smoother.
“The technology in this restaurant not only allows us to serve our customers in new, innovative ways, it gives our restaurant team the ability to concentrate more on order speed and accuracy, which makes the experience more enjoyable for everyone,” Vanecek said in the statement.
Concept was teased at McDonald’s 2020 Investor Update
The White Settlement test concept is the only one of its kind on earth, says McDonald’s, which shared its plans for the concept in its 2020 Investor Update.
Calling it a “test and learn” concept for now, the company said it’s excited to “test new ideas and innovations that can potentially benefit restaurant teams and customers around the world.”
Note: The test concept’s address was reported by the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
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