Ronald Redux

Six weeks after announcing plans for an updated, more futuristic restaurant to replace the Rock 'n' Roll McDonald's in downtown Chicago, the burger giant won the necessary approvals to build a second flagship location minutes away from its home base in Oak Brook, Ill.

Instead of

the chain's familiar red, white and yellow color scheme, natural stone and brick will shape the exterior architecture of the newly constructed building, with aluminum composite panels and a signature McDonald's Arch roof line, says company spokesman William Whitman. The 10,500-square-foot-plus space will include seating for about 250 inside, with an additional 60 seats on an outdoor patio.

As one of the few locations in the country to incorporate the company's McCafe concept (which will occupy about 25% of the site's total floor space), the new McDonald's will feature a dedicated counter and staff serving gourmet coffee, tea, pastries and cold sandwiches. The restaurant also will be Wi-Fi enabled, offering Internet and music-listening stations as well as extensive video elements, Whitman says.

In July, McDonald's unveiled its chosen design for the former Rock 'n' Roll McDonald's in Chicago's River North neighborhood. The retro-influenced restaurant will be flanked by two 60-foot-tall Golden Arches and will offer a double-lane drive-thru. Seating capacity will double to more than 300, and Wi-Fi and other modern features will be available to customers as well.

McDonald's is targeting April 2005, the 50th anniversary of the opening of the chain's first unit in Des Plaines, Ill., for the completion of both the Chicago and Oak Brook flagship restaurants.