It would seem that McDonald’s has resolved the steely staring contest between these 2 signs from 2 different eras, having gone ahead and ushered out the old restaurant here on Elgin and Cullen near the U of H campus to put up a brand-new one, a regional rep from the company confirms. No renderings of the next generation are available yet, but the rep says that it should be open in time for the fall semester.
- Previously on Swamplot: Daily Demolition Report: Gone Underground, Growing Up With McDonald’s
Photo: Allyn West
I haven’t been there in years, so I don’t know if this is still the case, but when I was a student at UH, this McD’s had the best service of any fast food restaurant anywhere.
This would be a much cooler city if the distinct stuff stayed around and the bland, cookie-cutter stuff went away, instead of always vice versa. You’d think it would at least work around a college campus.
I don’t disagree Mike, but marketing departments think that a generic easily identifiable brand and shape make it easier for people to recognize.
I am guessing that studies have been done and the number of people who find it helpful that the stores all look the same outweigh those that want a little bit of unique.
Sure toasty, but I’m guessing those studies are based on the “average” customer. Whereas if they differentiated a bit, they would probably find that people around a college campus are more likely to respond positively to something that is quaint and authentically retro, something they can identify with as a neighborhood institution. I think this McDonald’s had that identity for UH students.