McDonald’s Plans Olympian-Sized Unit For London Games

The 2012 London Olympic summer games will be home to four new–albeit temporary–McDonald’s units, including the largest and busiest McDonald’s restaurant in the world.

In a July 20, 2011, global webcast, McDonald’s UK CEO Jill McDonald said the two-story restaurant will measure more than 32,000 sq.ft. (3,000 sq. meters). It is expected to serve 1.75 million meals over the 29 days of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Those record-breaking production numbers will be made possible by the equivalent of four standard McDonald’s kitchens featured within the cavernous space.

The 1,500-seat restaurant will serve around 50,000 Big Macs, 100,000 portions of fries and 30,000 milkshakes during the Games. “In our main restaurant at Olympic Park, every hour will be three times as busy as our current busiest outlet in the UK,” said UK v.p. Steve Easterbrook.

The venue, designed by Philippe Avanzi, will be one of two built in Olympic Park for spectators; another will be erected in the main press center; and a fourth in Olympic Village, where the athletes are fed for free. In addition to using recycled materials, once dismantled, the furniture and kitchens will be recycled in other restaurants across the U.K. An October 2011 groundbreaking is planned.