In 2023, McDonald’s global presence reached a staggering 41.8 thousand restaurants, continuing its steady expansion over the past decade.1
While the golden arches are synonymous with the brand, a few locations deviate from this norm, featuring black arches instead.
This intriguing variation prompts the question: Why do some McDonald’s restaurants have black arches?
Why Some McDonald’s Have Arches That Aren’t Yellow
The iconic golden arches of McDonald’s are recognized worldwide. However, there are a few exceptions where the arches aren’t yellow. This deviation from the norm can be due to several factors:
- Aesthetics and Local Regulations: In some locations, like Sedona, Arizona, the naturally red rock landscape clashed with the bright yellow. Local regulations required the arches to be turquoise to blend better with the environment.
- Historical Buildings: Some McDonald’s restaurants are housed in historical buildings where modifying the exterior is prohibited. In these cases, the arches might be absent or less prominent.
- Branding Experiments: McDonald’s occasionally experiments with different colors for the arches in specific locations or for limited periods. This could be for marketing purposes or to gauge customer reactions.
- Cultural Adaptations: In some countries, McDonald’s adapts its branding to suit local preferences. This might involve using different colors or incorporating local symbols into the logo.
- Franchisee Decisions: In rare cases, franchise owners might choose to alter the color of the arches for personal reasons, though this usually requires approval from McDonald’s corporate.
Where Can You Find McDonald’s with Black Arches?
There are a few McDonald’s locations known for their unconventional black arches:
- Monterey, California: Located on Del Monte Avenue, this McDonald’s is housed in a historic building with Spanish-style architecture. The black arches were chosen to complement the building’s design and blend with the surrounding aesthetic. Interestingly, the original golden arches sign still stands in the restaurant’s parking lot.(ref)
- North Scottsdale, Arizona: Situated on Pima Road, this McDonald’s also features black arches.(ref) The reason behind this choice is not explicitly stated, but it’s likely due to local aesthetic preferences or regulations.
These are the two most well-known locations with black arches, but there might be others as McDonald’s occasionally experiments with different colors and designs for its branding.
Other McDonald’s Colored Arches
In Rocklin, California, the McDonald’s on Sunset Boulevard features dark red arches instead of the traditional golden yellow, making it a unique standout among the chain’s restaurants.
The Champs-Élysées McDonald’s in Paris, France, boasts a distinctive neon sign with white arches, deviating from the standard golden arches.
A McDonald’s in Bruges, Belgium, recently opened with white arches, adding a touch of local flair to the global brand.
It’s worth noting that even with the black (and other colored) arches, the restaurants still maintain the McDonald’s logo and overall branding elements, making them easily recognizable.
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Nancy Maffia
Nancy received a bachelor’s in biology from Elmira College and a master’s degree in horticulture and communications from the University of Kentucky. Worked in plant taxonomy at the University of Florida and the L. H. Bailey Hortorium at Cornell University, and wrote and edited gardening books at Rodale Press in Emmaus, PA. Her interests are plant identification, gardening, hiking, and reading.