ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – It’s not your typical McDonald’s – interactive technology (and an endless fries option) have people lining up at a “futuristic” new Missouri restaurant that opened Thursday.
KQTV reportsthat this McDonald’s is decked out with fancy soda machines, a high-tech play place and the in-house-only endless fries that gained international attention.
Diners can order from large kiosks and sit down while servers bring out the food.
Those who prefer to order at the counter can do that as well. “Your fries will come out in this really cute basket and it’s just like if you’re at a Mexican restaurant with chips and salsa,” said Chris Habiger, franchise owner.
The new menu offers a variety of grilled options and special sauces, such as pico de gallo and guacamole.
Diners can also choose from several customization options for their burgers and sandwiches.
The dessert bar offers a plethora of cones and topping options. “We wanted to bring a modern and progressive burger and breakfast restaurant to our community and I think we have,” Habiger said. “We were just super excited because we wanted to bring something different to the St. Joseph community and we love the clean lines, the modern look and we wanted to plus up our service experience for our customers,” said his wife and co-owner, Karri Habiger.
This “McDonald’s of the future” has also revamped the entertainment options for children. “We have one of the newest play sets. We have a little toddler area so they can go back in there play and not be run over by the kids. (There’s) a pogo stick that you can jump up and down on and it keeps your score on it,” said Vickie Wallace director of operations.
However, it wasn’t an easy process. “There’s moments obviously with any construction project that it gets stressful and you wonder if you’re going to meet your deadlines,” said Karri Habiger. The owners say they’re very happy with the final result. They’re expecting a lot of traffic over the coming months.
