McDonald’s Queen Street Mall flagship store driven by people power

A NEW 24/7 McDonald’s Queen Street Mall store – the fast food giant’s largest ever Australian retail project – is set to open after a $5 million state-of-the-art fitout of the former Jo-Jo’s restaurant.

The store covers 1000sq m and features 320 seats spread across a variety of different zones for children, parents, students, business people and more. Picture: Landini Associates

PEOPLE are coming back to the Brisbane CBD.

And for Tanya Manteit-Mulcahy, more people in the heart of Brisbane is a recipe for a success.

The licensee of McDonalds’ new Queen Street Mall store will open the doors on Monday after a $5 million state-of-the-art fitout of the former Jo-Jo’s restaurant on the corner of Albert St.

The fitout reflects the diversity of CBD customers. Picture: Landini Associates

The new Queen Street Mall McDonald's will be open 24/7. Picture: Landini Associates

Ms Manteit-Mulcahy said the time was right for a 24-7 large format McDonalds store in the city.

“After 2011 floods things slowed up a bit but now there’s a lot of investment in the city, like Queens Wharf, and plenty of organised activities and events to make the CBD more appealing to people,” she said.

“So they’re coming back. There are workers and shoppers here, but also uni students around, residents and tourists, people visiting the pubs and clubs at night and then there are families on the weekend as well.”

The McDonalds store, which is the fast food giant’s largest ever Australian retail project, covers 1000sq m and features 320 seats spread across a variety of different zones for children, parents, students, business people and more.

Licensee Tanya Manteit-Mulcahy poses in the redeveloped store which is a hive of frantic activity ahead of the Monday opening. Picture: John Gass/AAP

The store has a McCafe, an interactive Playland with a unique design using materials to represent Queensland and to fit in with the CBD aesthetic.

Ms Manteit-Mulcahy, who once operated the renowned New Farm Deli, bought her first McDonalds franchise four years ago and now has one in Fortitude Valley and five in the CBD.

While they’re in food courts or are small outlets the all-purpose Queen Street Mall McDonalds is a very different beast.

She said the fitout reflected the diversity of the CBD and customers’ different needs.

“McDonalds listens to its customers and respond to their needs by being innovative,” she said.

“There’s an increasingly diverse demographic in the CBD now and this restaurant has responded to that.”

The store has a McCafe, an interactive Playland with a unique design using materials to represent Queensland and to fit in with the CBD aesthetic. Picture: Landini Associates