CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- McDonald’s plans to move its Innovation Center from Romeoville where it’s been since 1995 to its headquarter location in Chicago’s West Loop.
The Innovation Center is where McDonald’s tries out possible ways to make the Mickey D’s experience quicker and better. Now, the company believes that would best be done in the city at a facility being called Speedee Labs.
That name has some history behind it. The Speedee Service System is what the McDonald’s brothers started in 1948 when they streamlined kitchen processes at their San Bernadino, California hamburger eatery.
Speedee Labs is expected to begin a phased opening in the second half of next year.
“Just as the creation of McDonald’s Customer Experience team brought key aspects of our business strategy together, the creation of Speedee Labs will enable more of our customers, restaurant teams, markets and global teams to contribute to our innovation, while driving growth and creating more seamless and memorable McDonald’s experiences," said Manu Steijaert, McDonald’s Executive Vice President and Chief Customer Officer in a statement.
Mayor Lightfoot praised McDonald’s for continuing to bet on Chicago.
“I am thrilled that McDonald’s is continuing to bet on Chicago by adding Speedee Labs to their global headquarters,” she said in a statement.
“This new addition will draw even more visitors from around the world to our city, and I look forward to welcoming them as they come to collaborate and innovate with this iconic brand.”
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