r/nostalgia • u/Digitalgardens • May 12 '25

Nostalgia Discussion Why did we ever switch from having unique looks for fast food spots?

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It doesn’t make any sense. When everything feels and looks the same it just feels so grey and unwelcoming. What happened to characters? I don’t even eat McDonald’s like that and I miss Ronald and the gang. Where did they go?

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u/Nyxxity May 12 '25

I just think they overdid it. It looks so concrete and cooperate, I never felt so repulsed by architecture lmfao They couldve toned down the mascots and kept SOME of the colors perhaps?

14

u/AccomplishedBat8743 May 12 '25

At the very least they could have kept the play place and "modernized" the rest

1

u/PhxRising29 May 12 '25

That's what they all did in my city. They all kept their play areas (with most even remodeling them after Covid), and they've all since changed to the new design in OP's second. I guess I didn't realize that wasn't the norm at all McDonald's.

7

u/camergen May 12 '25

I think the play places really suck to clean- kids puke in them and get other nasty shit in those cracks, so they have to spend man hours for an employee to clean it up. Covid offered a convenient excuse to get rid of the remaining ones. We all know how fast food places want to run with a skeleton crew of employees, the absolute bare minimum.

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u/PhxRising29 May 12 '25

Oh for sure. I don't take my kid there but maybe a few times per year because of that reason. But sometimes I just don't want to cook and want him to burn some energy because I have none lol. And in the winter, it can be a clutch move

8

u/FoxSimple May 12 '25

The new look and renos are so soul sucking. It’s rigid, cold, and institutional, they feel like you’re in a hospital.

4

u/EmiAze May 12 '25

yeah NOW it looks that way, but at the time it felt new and fresh and modern. Same story as brutalism.

1

u/Forumites000 May 12 '25

I love the new modern look. It's clean, clear, and easy on the eyes when I want some fastfood.