GRANITEVILLE — Beginning Thursday, customers can cater to their own taste at the new McDonald's in Graniteville.
A new location opening Thursday at exit 11 and Bettis Academy Road will be part of McDonald's Create Your Taste pilot program - one of about 100 across the United States.
The bold experiment amounts to a fast-food casual makeover.
"Everything about it is exciting" Janie Cravens, a McDonald's franchisee who owns and operates 10 locations in the CSRA with her husband, David, said in a press release.
Graniteville will be the Cravenses' first to open in South Carolina.
Cravens said their company, Cravco, was eager to try something new for its 11th restaurant.
"You will place your own order," said employee Brianna Green, as she helped customers learn to use the Create Your Taste touch-screen Wednesday evening during a preview event.
Diners at the new 24-hour McDonald's - scheduled to open at 5 a.m. Thursday with a ribbon-cutting at 11 a.m. - will be able to order custom-made $5 burgers from touch-screen menus, and choose to pile them high with premium toppings at no additional charge (with the exception of extra patties, tomato, or bacon).
Fries will come in a wire basket instead of a paper sleeve. Servers will deliver meals to your table, or you can still order and pick up from the front counter.
The Graniteville McDonald's will employ 80 people.
"This is a brand-new location with a brand-new lobby that's very modern," Cravens said. "We've put much focus on drive-thru, but now we are evolving our dining rooms to appeal to the customer who has a little more time to come inside."
Holly Ellington is the News Editor for the Aiken Standard.
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