A new KFC restaurant in McKinney, Texas, is designed to serve as a testing ground for the company's modernization efforts. According to KFC U.S. President Catherine Tan-Gillespie, the restaurant, dubbed Open House, represents the "Kentucky Fried comeback made real in one restaurant."
The restaurant's design incorporates Art Deco and mid-century modern influences, along with digital ordering and drive-thru technology, while also featuring lobby hosts, table service, booths, and outdoor dining designed to encourage customers to gather. Tan-Gillespie stated that the philosophy behind the design is to be digital where it's helpful, but human where it matters.
The menu at Open House reflects a similar approach, holding onto KFC's most recognizable products while experimenting with new offerings. The menu includes buckets and the chain's original recipe, as well as tenders, wings, sandwiches, wraps, and nuggets, along with new sauces, drinks, snacks, sweets, and sides.
Breakfast is also being tested at Open House, with the restaurant operating from 6 a.m. to midnight. Tan-Gillespie stated that the company will evaluate the success of these new dayparts and adjust accordingly. The restaurant was chosen for its location in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, which is considered a fast-growing and competitive restaurant market.
Tan-Gillespie emphasized that some elements of the KFC brand are not up for reinvention, including the iconic buckets of original recipe fried chicken. The company's goal is to modernize the brand while staying true to its roots.
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