By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga
The McDonald’s NXTGEN located at Megaworld’s Forbes Hill property in Bacolod City is welcoming the New Year with a dazzling display of colorful lights dubbed as “Smile-Thru.”.
The store’s drive-thru facility has been transformed into a 145-foot long glittering tunnel of lights where customers can take selfies or groupies as they move from one station to another.
Harold Geronimo, Megaworld senior assistant vice president and head of public relations and media affairs, said the “Smile-Thru” will be a permanent feature for the McDonald’s Forbes Hill with the design and lights being changed periodically based on the celebration or holiday throughout the year.
In January, Geronimo said the tunnel’s theme will be changed again to celebrate the Chinese New Year, and in February the theme will be Valentine’s Day.
Judy Gabriel, executive director for Choice Gourmet Banquet, Incorporated, said the “Smile-Thru” was supposed to be opened prior to the holiday season, but it was delayed due to super typhoon “Odette.”
“We are excited to welcome the people of Bacolod here at McDonald’s Forbes Hill with yet another new and exciting innovation,” Gabriel said.
The McDonald’s NXTGEN store was opened to the public last December 16.
The store’s interiors and exteriors are designed following the Ray Palette, the fast food giant’s latest, global standard design scheme that puts emphasis on space and lighting.
Only select new stores adopt the new design scheme in the country.
In addition, the store also features the first McCafe in Negros, bringing in not just the favorites like burgers and fries, but also iced or hot coffee, latte, or cappucino, and other cakes and pastries that will satisfy the Negrense’s sweet tooth.
The store also boasts one of the country’s largest McDonald’s Bike and Dine facility, along with bicycle racks and a bike repair station, making it also the bike-friendliest store in the province.
However, the store’s most noticeable feature is the self-ordering kiosks, where customers can order and pay for their food through cashless modes of payments./DGB, WDJ