McDonald's Opens First McCafe in U.S.

Leather furniture, lace curtains, French posters, free jelly and red roses shared the spotlight with cappuccinos, lattes, espressos and Lavazza-brand coffee imported from Italy at yesterday’s grand opening in Chicago of the first McCafe in the United States. Although there are 300 McCafes in 17 other countries, this is McDonald’s initial branded attempt to counteract the national explosion of Starbucks and other similar franchise cafes.

The 32-seat McCafe is adjacent to a traditional McDonald’s, but its laid-back atmosphere appears to be as far from the parent company’s fast-food roots as it can get.