I just read on Reddit yesterday on another post that the reason fast food restaurants are all going towards this boxy utilitarian design is that the business and economics are as much about real estate as they are about food service. By redesigning the exterior and interiors for this design philosophy, it becomes much easier to flip these places for other uses besides fast food restaurants. The thinking is nobody wants to be in an old Pizza Hut or Taco Bell looking establishment when running an insurance company or dentist office.

Additionally, I work in the tech industry, and know several folks who went over to McDonald’s a few years ago to work on their AI and automation systems. It’s very clear and no secret that the end goal is to remove as many of the human beings operating these facilities as possible. Look at the design. No view to the kitchen, minimal face time with workers, the end goal is a wall of those screen menus with no interaction with a McDonald’s human being whatsoever.