McWhat?!? McDonald’s Is Making a Huge Change That Michigan Customers Will Notice

As a former employee of McDonald’s, specifically Fenton’s Owen Road location, I have seen some pretty dramatic changes over the last several decades. From products coming and going to restaurant renovations, it seems like something is always changing. Even the Owen Road McDonald’s, which once had an Elvis statue and a huge indoor and outdoor PlayPlace, has been completely demolished and rebuilt from the ground up.

Why McDonald’s Is Making the Self-Serve Change

But a new change is coming to all McDonald’s locations in Michigan, across the country, and around the world. According to Fox 2, by 2032 the fast food giant is planning to remove all self-serve soda fountains.

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Yep, the days of grabbing your own cup, mixing drinks, and going back for that second or third refill may be coming to an end. My fellow employees and I used to love making a drink that mixed every single flavor available from the fountain dispenser. It looks like those days are numbered.

What This McDonald's Change Means for Michigan Customers

McDonald's is slowly phasing out those soda stations as part of a bigger push to modernize stores. A lot of locations are already making the change, especially after remodels, with drinks now being made behind the counter instead.

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Honestly, it makes sense from their perspective. It cuts down on maintenance, keeps things cleaner, and gives them more control over portions. Plus, with more people hitting the drive-thru or ordering delivery, fewer customers are actually hanging out inside like they used to.

The End of a Fast Food Tradition

Still, it kind of feels like the end of an era. Self-serve fountains were just part of the McDonald’s experience. Maybe now they can keep their milkshake and ice cream machines working.

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The good news? McDonald’s is leaning harder into beverages overall, rolling out new refreshers and trendy 'dirty sodas.' So yeah, things are changing again, and they’re hoping that (ba da ba ba bah)… you’re lovin’ it.