Megaworld Corporation is set to build the Most Beautiful McDonald’s Philippines store in The Upper East Bacolod. This iconic new store is poised to open in time for this year’s MassKara Festival as Bacolod City tries to rise up from the scourge of the pandemic. Megaworld has always been supportive of the booming Bacolod movement, pouring investments into the City of Smiles. Dr. Andrew L. Tan, chairman of the Alliance Global Group, is living up to his title as the honorary Mayor of Bacolod.
Developments at The Upper East
Philippines property giant Megaworld continues to ramp up the excitement in Bacolod City as it is set to build “the Most Beautiful McDonald’s Philippines”. It will be located inside its 34-hectare township, The Upper East.
The new McDonald’s store will be surrounded by a landscaped, curated garden that will also serve as an open alfresco dining area. By far, this will be the largest for McDonald’s in the whole of Visayas.
The 2,200-square meter landscaped garden will be built with a laidback, modern radial design while incorporating classic furniture reminiscent of the Spanish era. Moreover, it will have the historic, century-old BMMC (Bacolod-Murcia Milling Company) train as its iconic centerpiece.
An extension of the original train will be built to house McDonald’s Dessert Center, which will soon serve sundaes and drinks. Native tropical plants and flowering trees such as narra, banaba, pitogo, and batino will add the color and feel to this Filipino-themed garden.
Additionally, there will be two-meter-high, tulip-shaped lighted flowers made of fiberglass. These are expected to look especially beautiful when lit up at night, as they will dot the area to add color and bring a festive feel.
“This is the largest al fresco dining area for McDonald’s in the whole of Visayas, and with these curated garden elements, it is by far envisioned to be the most beautiful in the country when completed.” This was disclosed by Eugene Reducindo, managing director, Choice Gourmet Banquet, Inc., the company that franchises and operates Megaworld-owned McDonald’s stores.
The Most Beautiful McDonald’s Philippines
Aside from the curated garden, this new McDonald’s Philippines store that will soon rise at The Upper East will have the following unique highlights and features:
- Contemporary design centering on light and space
- McDonald’s The Upper East will greet its guests with a unique enveloped screen piazza exterior façade. It will be highlighted by a large Masskara Wall featuring a giant mask masterpiece by Jojo Vito, Bacolod’s most renowned mask maker.
- Upon entering the store, one’s attention will immediately be taken by an eye-catching yellow grand staircase leading to the second floor. More more seats will be set up there.
- With its glass walls and a high ceiling, the store welcomes plenty of natural light during the day and gives off a relaxing vibe. At night, the interior lights up, thanks to well-placed lighting fixtures. These design elements are characteristic of the Ray Palette, McDonald’s latest, global standard design scheme that puts emphasis on space and lighting.
First in VisMin
This McDonald’s store will also feature its own Collab Room, McDonald’s own version of a conference room equipped with essential facilities needed for meetings. This private meeting room at the second level can accommodate up to 10 persons—a first-of-its-kind for McDonald’s in the entire Visayas and Mindanao.
A facility made especially for cyclists
McDonald’s The Upper East will also feature an expansive Bike and Dine Area. Here, cyclists riding to or from their destinations can enjoy their favorite McDonald’s meal without leaving their bicycles.
There will also be a Bike Repair and Air Pumping Station, as well as an E-Charging Station for e-bikes and scooters to help riders ensure their bicycles or scooters are in top condition before they go.
Topnotch amenities providing a complete dining experience
McDonald’s Upper East will feature the modern NXTGEN facility, namely the Self-Ordering Kiosks (SOK), where customers can order and pay for their food through cash, or credit and debit cards, and claim their order at one of the counters.
Exclusice McCafé
Meanwhile, there will also be a McCafé with a separate entrance door on the first floor. Here, guests can polish off their McDonald’s meals with their pick of caffeinated or decaffeinated beverages and pastries.
For those who wish to work or simply charge their tablets, smartphones, or laptops, McDonald’s The Upper East will have wireless charging facilities installed at the communal tables and power outlets at the McCafé and the alfresco dining areas.
Other facilities within the store include a Party Area for birthday parties and other celebrations and a Lactation Room for breastfeeding moms.
McDonald’s The Upper East will have a seating capacity of 256 across the store.
First-of-a-kind Drive-Thru Experience
A first in Negros, McDonald’s The Upper East will feature a Side-by-Side (Double Lane) Drive-Thru facility that also includes Customer Order Displays. Crew members will be using a Handheld Order-Taking (HHOT) device to take orders from customers right from their vehicles. This will make the experience even more of a breeze, particularly when there’s a long line.
“Our target is to open this new McDonald’s store just in time for Masskara Festival in October. We are investing a lot in this store because we believe that Bacolod only deserves the best. This is the reason why we are bringing a lot of firsts in every McDonald’s store that we build here,” adds Reducindo.
McDonald’s The Upper East will be Megaworld’s second McDonald’s store in the province. Last December, the company also opened the McDonald’s Forbes Hill, the first full-scale NXTGEN store with its own McCafe in Negros inside its 53-hectare Northill Gateway township. It also features the largest Bike and Dine facility in the country.