---
title: "A&W Restaurants Launches New Restaurant Design for the Next Generation of Growth"
url: https://burnaze.com/article/928c30c0-c460-4528-9f85-ab09a647b6a3
source: "Franchising.com"
original_url: https://www.franchising.com/news/20260818_aw_restaurants_launches_new_restaurant_design_for_the_next_generation_of_gr.html
category: "Burger"
industry: "Restaurants"
segment: "Burger"
published: 2026-08-18T12:00:00.000Z
modified: 2026-10-31T14:57:42.869Z
image: https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1504674900247-0877df9cc836?w=1600&q=80&auto=format&fit=crop
---

# A&W Restaurants Launches New Restaurant Design for the Next Generation of Growth

**TL;DR:** A&W Restaurants has launched a new restaurant prototype that honors its iconic past while creating a modern experience for guests. The design blends classic Americana with contemporary architecture and can be adapted for various market sizes.

*originally published in Franchising.com on 2026-08-18. [Read the original](https://www.franchising.com/news/20260818_aw_restaurants_launches_new_restaurant_design_for_the_next_generation_of_gr.html).*

## Story

A&W Restaurants today announced the launch of its new restaurant prototype, a design that honors the brand's iconic past while creating a relevant, differentiated experience for today's guests.

Inspired by A&W's classic diner restaurants and its original roadside root beer stands, the modern heritage concept blends timeless Americana with contemporary architecture, enhanced guest comfort and a flexible footprint that can be adapted for a variety of market sizes. Ranging from 2,200 to 2,800 square feet with seating for 40 to 70 guests, the design creates an inviting atmosphere that balances functionality with an exceptional dine-in experience.

"This new restaurant design represents the future of A&W while staying true to everything our guests have loved about the brand for more than a century," said Betsy Schmandt, chief executive officer and president of A&W Restaurants. "As many restaurant brands embrace increasingly transactional guest experiences, A&W is doubling down on what has always set us apart: handcrafted quality, genuine hospitality and meaningful connections with the communities we serve.”

The prototype is the latest milestone in A&W's ongoing brand evolution. As the first quick-service restaurant brand to handcraft beverages in every restaurant, A&W continues to build on its legacy with expanded beverage innovation around its signature root beer made fresh daily and delivering genuine, personalized service through its Hometown Hospitality model. Together, these initiatives reinforce what has always made A&W unique while creating an experience that resonates with guests of every generation.

## Entities

- Franchising.com (publication)
- QSR (sector)
- restaurant design (topic)
- A&W Restaurants (company)
- brand evolution (topic)
- beverage innovation (topic)
- qsr innovation (topic)
- Betsy Schmandt (person)

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Originally reported by Franchising.com (https://www.franchising.com/news/20260818_aw_restaurants_launches_new_restaurant_design_for_the_next_generation_of_gr.html). Summarized by Burnaze (https://burnaze.com/article/928c30c0-c460-4528-9f85-ab09a647b6a3).