Burger King Corp. plans to swap its generic fast-food feel and bland tiles and tabletops for a vibe that’s more sit-down than drive-through.

As part of a plan to be revealed Wednesday in Amsterdam, the company will announce a massive effort to overhaul its 12,000 locations worldwide. The sleek interior will include rotating red flame chandeliers, brilliant TV-screen menus and industrial-inspired corrugated metal and brick walls.

“I’d call it more contemporary, edgy, futuristic,” Chairman and CEO John Chidsey told The Associated Press. “It feels so much more like an upscale restaurant.”

But that comes with an upscale price: The new look is expected to cost franchisees, who operate 90 percent of Burger King’s locations, between $300,000 to $600,000 per restaurant.

The company said the new design, called “20/20″ at the Miami-based chain, is already in place at about 60 locations around the world. Burger King expects about 75 more redesigned restaurants to be open by the end of next year. But it will take years before all its locations are transformed.
Read the full story

McDonald’s is rolling out its Free Mocha Mondays promotion today: every Monday through August 3, customers who come into their local McDonald’s between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. can receive a complimentary sample of the restaurant’s McCafe Mocha products.

You can choose from an 8 oz. sample of the McCafe Mocha, or a 7 oz. sample of the McCafe Iced Mocha (one per person, of course).

If mocha’s not your motivation this Monday, log onto Facebook and go to the Starbucks ice cream app page. There, you can send someone (including yourself) a coupon for a free pint of the new Starbucks ice cream. Over 800 coupons will be given away each hour, and you can only send a coupon once.

Now you have two free, delicious ways to get your week started!

Know of any other good freebies to kick off your Monday? Post a comment below and share the knowledge!

Scott and Don Harris, brothers and business partners, have spent 25 years in the burger business as owners of Wendy’s franchises.

When they were looking to become franchisees of a new concept, the brothers were drawn again to burgers. Last year they opened a Roswell, Ga., outlet for The Counter, a California-based burger chain.

“You can always go back to the hamburger as this one basic element of American society,” Scott Harris said. “Give me a great hamburger and you’ll have a following.”

Now a new-generation of hamburger chains is spreading across the United States. They offer slightly pricier burgers, typically $5 to $10 for their mainstay items, and feature hand-made patties from fresh-ground beef.

Read the full story

Customers are searching out the Giant Javas placed throughout Palm Beach and the Treasure Coast before the crack of dawn Friday.

Last time we heard, 10 of the 25 cups had been found at locations including West Palm’s new library, St. Mary’s Hospital, Addie Greene Park in Mangonia Park, and Carlin Park in Jupiter.

The 3-foot-tall cups were hidden all over the area, and finders each won free McCafe coffee for a year.

Some people took them to work to redeem on their way home, while others couldn’t wait for their caffeine boost and made a bee-line to the nearest McDonald’s.

Restaurant locations reporting winners coming in: Yamato Road in Boca, Wellington, Forest Hill, Okeechobee & Royal Palm Beach, Jupiter, Belle Glade, Vero Beach and Sebastian.

Winners include those who just happened upon the cups and others who were out actively searching.

We’ll be sharing the results so stay tuned.

Laura Nedwick of West Palm Beach claimed a cup at Tiger Shark Park in Wellington with the help of the children in her day care program.

They discovered the cup, which the kids helped take inside the Wellington McDonald’s where they all celebrated with McDonald’s treats.

Read the original post here.

On Friday morning, June 5, customers who spot one of 25 3-foot-tall McCafé cups placed around Palm Beach, Martin, St. Lucie, Indian River and Okeechobee counties can redeem them at any participating McDonald’s for a year’s worth of McCafé, one per week.

Cool, a caffeinated scavenger hunt!

“Customers might find the scavenger hunt cups on the beach, a bench or on their way to work or school,” said McDonald’s owner/operator Ricky Wade.

Consider this your wake up call. Be on the lookout. How can you miss a 3-foot-tall coffee cup?

Read here for more freebies to celebrate National Doughnut Day!