---
title: "McDonald’s Secretly Built a See-Through Restaurant in a Chicago Warehouse —Here’s What’s Inside"
url: https://burnaze.com/article/5501170f-7098-4efc-8041-6e2229d1ceff
source: "Entrepreneur Franchise"
original_url: https://www.entrepreneur.com/buying-a-franchise/mcdonalds-secretly-built-a-see-through-restaurant-in-a-chicago-warehouse
author: "Jonathan Small"
category: "Burger"
industry: "Restaurants"
segment: "Burger"
published: 2026-07-14T13:14:00.000Z
modified: 2026-10-31T20:02:55.590Z
image: https://www.entrepreneur.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/07/mcdonalds-chicago-restaurant-0726-g-1157645553.jpg
---

# McDonald’s Secretly Built a See-Through Restaurant in a Chicago Warehouse —Here’s What’s Inside

**TL;DR:** McDonald's has built a secret see-through restaurant in a Chicago warehouse as part of its 'McDonald's Next' strategy. The new concept features a unique design with glass walls, a single order window, and temperature-controlled lockers.

*By Jonathan Small, originally published in Entrepreneur Franchise on 2026-07-14. [Read the original](https://www.entrepreneur.com/buying-a-franchise/mcdonalds-secretly-built-a-see-through-restaurant-in-a-chicago-warehouse).*

## Story

McDonald’s newest restaurant is hiding in an unmarked warehouse on Chicago’s South Side, and it’s unlike anything the chain has built before, Restaurant Business reports. Franchisees got a sneak peek during the McDonald’s Worldwide convention in Las Vegas. @McFranchisee snapped a few and put them on X.

Walk up to the front, and you can see straight through the glass walls into the kitchen, all the way to the fry station. There’s even a window where customers can watch employees make espresso drinks at a bar with stools.

Inside, the traditional front counter is gone, replaced by a single order window and temperature-controlled lockers where customers grab their food. Delivery drivers get their own separate pickup lockers outside. The kitchen is divided into two halves, with 40% of the space dedicated to drinks and desserts. Sensors on the equipment alert managers when something like the fryer oil needs changing.

The concept, part of a strategy McDonald’s calls “McDonald’s Next,” is expected to roll out to franchisees whose locations are due for a remodel or who are opening new ones.

## Entities

- QSR (sector)
- Entrepreneur (publication)
- McDonald's (company)
- Chicago (location)
- technology integration (topic)
- restaurant design (topic)
- Jonathan Small (person)
- mcdonald's next (topic)
- franchise remodel (topic)

---
Originally reported by Jonathan Small, Entrepreneur Franchise (https://www.entrepreneur.com/buying-a-franchise/mcdonalds-secretly-built-a-see-through-restaurant-in-a-chicago-warehouse). Summarized by Burnaze (https://burnaze.com/article/5501170f-7098-4efc-8041-6e2229d1ceff).