The Complete Guide to What‘s Replacing McDonald‘s Inside Walmart

After over 20 years and nearly 1,000 total locations, the iconic McDonald‘s menu stands are closing down within Walmart stores across America. It marks the end of an era – no longer can shoppers cap off a big box store haul with classic Golden Arches fare.

So what dining options are replacing McDonald‘s to feed hungry Walmart customers?

Below you‘ll discover the key players moving in, why McDonald‘s is leaving, what it signals about the future of in-store dining, and how to find out what new restaurants your local Walmart now offers.

The Scale of Two Retail Giants

To understand the shifting dynamics, it helps to grasp the massive reach of both brands. Walmart serves about 230 million customers globally each week in over 10,500 stores. McDonald‘s feeds even more – around 69 million people per day across over 13,000 US locations.

Combine their powers together and you have an in-store dining experience unlike any other major retailer. But after over a decade as partners, changing consumer habits have led them to now go their separate ways.

The New Lineup of Quick Service Restaurant Brands

Instead of vacating the large, prized restaurant spaces inside stores, Walmart is filling them with best-in-class quick service chains:

Consumer survey data shows 60% of Walmart shoppers plan to buy meals from these new restaurants.

Their more compact store size better fits Walmart‘s evolving "hybrid" model that blends in-person shopping with robust digital order volume.

Dominos offers house-made pizza by the slice or whole pies for enjoying during a shopping break or carryout on the go.

Wow Bao lets shoppers combine Asian flavor profiles into easily customized steam bun sandwiches, rice bowls, or crispy potstickers for a satisfying bite.

And Nathan‘s brings a New York classic to big box environs with their intensely flavorful grilled link hot dogs and crinkle cut fries. That‘s the true taste of Coney Island now conveniently steps from Walmart‘s toy section or pet food aisles.

Making Way for More Profitable (and Popular) Replacements

So why is McDonald‘s – one of the most iconic American fast food chains – suddenly leaving?

There are two key profit-focused factors driving their exodus:

1. Larger average purchases per customer – Brands like Dominos generate bigger single meal checks, often from groups or families buying to-go pizzas or customize-it-yourself salad bowls. This compares to McDonald‘s, where lone shoppers would commonly have a more modest sandwich or nuggets.
2. More valuable use of square footage – A typical McDonald‘s occupied over 2,000 sq ft inside stores. For the food and diner volume produced, Walmart sees opportunity to earn higher rent and profit from replacements tailored to a smaller physical footprint.

Of course, lingering impacts of the pandemic have also shifted where and how consumers purchase McDonald‘s meals:

• Over 50% of sales now come via Drive-Thru, a feature Walmart locations generally lack
• Many former in-store diners now mobile order & pickup curbside, another emerging convenience Walmart looks to lead in

Simply put – as consumer behavior and order habits change, both brands are lean into more profitable models. For McDonald‘s, that means focusing franchise efforts into stand-alone Drive-Thru and mobile order equipped locations better designed for 2024.

Past and Future: Evolution of Food Service at Big Box Retailers

While no retailer influenced our dining culture more than early innovator Walmart, big box stores integrating restaurants is no longer novel. Target, warehouse clubs like Costco, and modern grocers feature everything from branded national chains to unique private label cafes.

Based on food industry category growth rates, retail analyst firm Rensselaer expects shopper‘s in-store meal purchases to increase 25% by 2025.

With off-premise digital orders also rising, having dining options that span both dimensions aids conversion and loyalty. A frictionless, flexible customer experience is the ultimate goal.

In that sense, swapping legacy McDonald‘s for enhanced quick service restaurants aligned to modern tastes makes strategic sense.

The coming years will tell if the gamble pays off. But early positive customer reception to replacement options shows Walmart continues evolving the definition of convenience and one-stop shopping for the 2020s.

Locating Dining Options at a Walmart Near You

With McDonald‘s no longer a constant, how can shoppers find what restaurant replacements exist in their area or spot them while visiting various Walmart locations?

I suggest taking the following helpful steps:

Check Walmart.com – Search for your local store, then view amenities on its info page listing key departments and services. New restaurants may be highlighted here.

Utilize the Walmart App – Get location-specific updates and store maps directing you to fresh food or restaurant choices. Filtering tools let you see what‘s nearby or coming soon.

Inspect in-store directional signs & space layout changes – Updated navigational cues, zone separations, or equipment meant to enable quicker food prep & pickup will appear first.

Call ahead – Speaking directly with service managers gives shoppers total clarity on what exists currently or is planned. They have the most timely intelligence.

Leverage restaurant loyalty programs – Signing up for MyDominos or Taco Bell Rewards ensures you‘re the first to know about openings plus unlock free food offers.

As consumer preference for conveniently mixing meal options amid shopping journeys persist, Walmart diversifying quick food partners means more choice. With savvier digital tools and in-real-life awareness, that hunger pang striking just when the cart gets full now brings exciting flavor potential.

Stay tuned and stay hungry!