Hilton Head McDonald’s is getting a new look. But will you see any golden arches?

The view out the window when you’re in the drive-thru is about to be “modernized” at Hilton Head Island’s McDonald’s on the north end.

McDonald’s has applied to the Town of Hilton Head Island to renovate the dining room, exterior and the drive-thru at 2 Plaza Drive and U.S. 278.

The new look will include a natural brown exterior and the McDonald’s logo, but no famous golden arches over top of the restaurant to maintain the island’s branding and design guidelines.

“McDonald’s and its franchising partners are investing $6 billion to modernize more than 14,000 restaurants nationwide,” the application said. “The goal is to emphasize convenience and personalized experiences while boosting the fun-to-eat factor that the Golden Arches represent.”

The expected finish date is “by 2020,” according to the application.

The design review board heard the plans last week for the second time. In the first review, the board requested the developers remove all bright yellow elements of the plan.

The renovation will remove the existing roof and “light beams” on top the restaurant and add new drive-thru signage and more parking to the restaurant — which is located in front of the Port Royal Plaza.

Inside, the restaurant will be reconfigured to install self-serve kiosks, according to the application.

The kitchen and dining room will be left mostly intact, so the restaurant should remain open through construction, the application said.

Katherine Kokal

The Island Packet

843-560-9158

Katherine Kokal graduated from the University of Missouri School of Journalism and joined The Island Packet newsroom in 2018. Before moving to the Lowcountry, she worked as an interviewer and translator at a nonprofit in Barcelona and at two NPR member stations. At The Island Packet, Katherine covers Hilton Head Island’s government, environment, development, beaches and the all-important Loggerhead Sea Turtle. She has earned South Carolina Press Association Awards for in-depth reporting, government beat reporting, business beat reporting, growth and development reporting, food writing and for her use of social media.