McDONALDS IN NEW FORMAT HERE
Ames Daily Tribune - March 3, 1971
First Ames McDonalds Tribune photo from March 27, 1971 GRAND OPENING -- John Dasher, manager of the new McDonald's Restaurant on South Duff Avenue, and his wife, hosted members of the Ames business community Friday during grand opening festivities at the restaurant. As evidenced, McDonald's has changed its building appearance from the old traditional tile structure to an artistically pleasing brick motif. Free hand puppets, flying hamburgers and Ronald McDonald autographs were offered at the grand opening. The restaurant had been operating since late February, 1971.
The business scene in Ames has received an esthetic touch with the opening of another in the nation-wide chain of McDonald's Hamburger Restaurant at South Duff Ave. The restaurant, which employs 50 people, has received a good reception by the people of Ames, according to John Jonson, field consultant for McDonald's midwest region. John Dasher, owner of Mr. Steak in Ames, is the licensed owner of the new McDonald's.
Johnson explained the new style building which houses the restaurant is a complete revamping from the old red and white tile buildings inaugurated when McDonald's opened in 1955. The brick structure, Johnson explained, is "more esthetically pleasing to people" and even zoning boards. With increases in business, the new design provides for more room.
The change in buildings began about two years ago, Johnson said. Dubuque opened the first new building in Iowa in November. Johnson further explained the McDonald's viewpoint: "We met a demand... we felt we could raise our image by revamping."
While still a carry-out restaurant, McDonald's is now an open building not separated by glass with only a counter space in between, Johnson said. Open from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. Friday and Saturday, McDonald's still features the menu which made the company famous. The parking lot can hold 60 cars.
McDonald's now boasts almost 1,700 restaurants in the country and soon will have sold eight billion hamburgers, Johnson said.
