The Golden Arches are getting a tummy tuck, undergoing renovations that feature a new interior with a modern setting, a more up-to-date exterior and a newly designed patio area.

The McDonald’s on River Road is a pilot program for the upgrade, which will gradually affect other locations.  Construction started May 31 and will take about four weeks to complete.

This McDonald’s is the first in the area to receive the upgrade, owner Kenneth Foster Jr. said.  He believes that the upgrade is a positive step for the franchise.

“McDonald’s is very good at trying to stay up-to date,” Foster said.  “So if this works, I wouldn’t be surprised if it spreads.”

About 85 percent of McDonald’s restaurants are privately owned, so most owners decide whether or not to modernize.  In the case of the River Road restaurant, Foster thought that an upgrade would be beneficial to the 11-year-old store.

“Hopefully it will be a little more inviting and get people to come for dinner,” Foster said.

The McDonald’s Corporation plans to undergo a five-year, multibillion dollar renovation campaign of its restaurants across the nation.

Company executives say the contemporary rebranding program will help boost annual sales per restaurant from $2.3 million to $3.1 million, leading to a total gain of $11.2 billion across all McDonald’s outlets in the next five years.

“The primary goal is to increase sales,” Foster said.  “That’s always the goal when you do a renovation like this.”

Although the restaurant will get an interior makeover, there won’t be any major changes to the menu.  Foster doesn’t envision his restaurant attracting a different clientele after the renovation either.

Not all students say they’re swayed by the upgrade.

“I’m not really a fan of McDonald’s in general,” junior Ashley Sobhani said.  “It’s not the area I don’t like; it’s the food.”

Others like the idea of a new interior and think that the upgrade will benefit the restaurant.

“It’ll definitely help their sales a lot because you’ll probably see more people sitting down there,” junior Jeff Schaeffer said.  “I’m sure they want to make it look like more of a sit-down area.  But for me personally, I like the drive-thru.”

The restaurant and drive-thru will close for a total of four days over the course of the four week construction period.