“On behalf of my fellow Detroit McDonald’s restaurant owners, I’m inviting everyone who lives, works and entertains in Detroit to join us and toast our great city with a delicious Boston Cooler,” said Jon Campbell, Detroit McDonald’s restaurant owner. “I hope to see lines out the door of customers coming to McDonald’s for a free Boston Cooler. I know our customers will be lovin’ our big giveaway for Detroit’s birthday.”
By late afternoon on Sunday, July 24, McDonald’s anticipates giving away more than 10,000 free Boston Coolers in celebration of Detroit’s birthday.
Fred Sanders is credited with inventing the ice cream soda at his confectionary in 1875 when ice cream was substituted for sweet cream in a soda. The Boston Cooler was invented by combining Vernors, a beverage created by Detroit pharmacist James Vernor in 1866, with vanilla ice cream. It is a little known fact that the Boston Cooler is named for Detroit’s Boston Boulevard and is not connected to Boston, Mass.
“Let’s join together in sharing our pride in celebrating this great city,” added Campbell, who was born and raised in Detroit. “That pride and passion extends to all of us Detroit McDonald’s restaurant owners. We’re proud of our bond with the City of Detroit where we opened our first restaurant more than 50 years ago.”
McDonald’s ongoing commitment to Detroit was further demonstrated when the McDonald’s Corporation and Detroit McDonald’s restaurant owners announced in February their shared pledge to reinvest in the city, remodeling 13 restaurants in the city this year.
In a statement issued by Mayor Mike Duggan during McDonald’s announcement, he welcomed “the long-term commitment McDonald’s is making to remodel their Detroit locations.”
“This is an exciting time to be in Detroit,” said Campbell. “A lot of businesses are coming to the city, an area that we have been invested in for some time,” referring to McDonald’s long history of supporting the City of Detroit and the many neighborhoods where they operate.
Grand re-openings of several City of Detroit McDonald’s restaurants are slated in the coming weeks. With 13 restaurants being remodeled this year and the other Detroit restaurants updated in recent years, all 28 McDonald’s Detroit locations will be renovated by the end of the year, providing the best customer experience and conveniences available.
McDonald’s modernization program in Detroit involves making a wide range of updates to the restaurants, including upgrading the exterior, remodeling the lobby, adding new building signage, and refreshing the restrooms, landscaping and parking lots. Highlights of the remodeling project in Detroit include new digital menu boards, comfortable cushioned seating, high and low-top tables and large drum pendant lights defining the seating areas to provide a sense of privacy. McDonald’s has hired Michigan contractors, architects and suppliers to implement the renovations.
McDonald’s also conveys its commitment to Detroit through many initiatives addressing needs in the community, including hosting an annual turkey giveaway before Thanksgiving for families in need; donating hats and scarves in the cold winter months; and donating backpacks filled with school supplies to students. McDonald’s corporate staff, restaurant owners and community volunteers built a new playground at the Northwest Activities Center that serves approximately 250 youth each day year-round. McDonald’s restaurants also host McTeacher Nights, inviting local educators, students, parents and families to “work” at McDonald’s and raise money for school programs.