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Customers at the Luverne McDonald’s are greeted by a total renovation that includes an electronic self-ordering system.
The project, which lasted about eight weeks, is part of a national reimaging process for McDonald’s restaurants across the country.
“It’s a completely different-looking building, a new modern look,” said Luverne McDonald’s owner Rick Lessnau of Sioux Falls.
The interior of the business was closed for about four weeks during construction while the drive-thru window service remained open throughout.
Inside the restaurant, contractors installed a new floor, counters and furniture and enhanced the restrooms.
“The whole dining room has changed,” Lessnau said.
New technology was also part of the upgrades. Two new self-serve ordering kiosks were also installed.
“Customers use a touch screen to place their order and pay with a credit card,” Lessnau said. “They take a number and we bring the order to their table.”
A new drive-thru ordering station with new digital display boards was also added.
“Our goal is to enhance the customer experience overall,” Lessnau said. “These improvements are not meant to reduce the number of employees we have or need.”
The dining room re-opened this week and Lessnau said customers and staff are getting used to the changes.
He said a grand re-opening is planned for July after any bugs in the new systems are worked out.
“Technology is great, but sometimes it doesn’t work so good at first,” the owner said.
Lessnau added that more enhancements may be on the way for the local McDonald’s, which has been in Luverne since 1993.
“This is just one piece of the pie,” he said. “We have more upgrades to come. Delivery may be an option in the not-to-distant future.”
Lessnau, who has owned the Luverne restaurant for eight years, also owns seven McDonald’s in Sioux Falls and one in Brandon.
“We’re proud of the project overall,” he said. “Hopefully we can continue to serve the customers in Luverne at a high level, and maybe even a little bit better.”