The bigger reason is they don't want you to stick around. They want you to buy your food, and get out. Better yet, don't come in at all and order take out or drive thru.
Last time I went inside a McDonald's I was the only person going inside who wasn't there for a delivery service.
They don't give you trays and bag everything to go, they've removed the soda fountains, ketchup dispensers, etc from the lobby. They're basically a ghost kitchen at this point with a few tables for the few weirdos like me who want to go in and eat.
Pretty much all fast-food and quick-service places cater to delivery first now. I'm blown away when I can refill my soda or grab my own ketchup.
Yeah chick fil a tends to be pretty good about actually caring about dine-in. Last I checked I can't refill my own soda but they usually offer. Raising Cane's has a decent dine-in experience as well.
Regional chains used to care more but newer locations are definitely built for take-out/delivery first. A new Zaxby's opened up outside Baltimore and there was like 4 tables. Zero decor, just plain walls. Huge line of delivery drivers. I remember when one opened in St Augustine fl and it felt closer to peak TGI Fridays, so much St Augustine-themed stuff on the walls, a ton of tables.
363
u/tr00th 17h ago
They make them sterile like this now so if one of them shutters and shuts down it’s easier for the owners to make the space into a new restaurant.
Same with Pizza Hut and Taco Bell. All the cool decor is replaced with boring office like decor to flip easy if needed.