What‘s Replacing McDonald‘s Inside Walmart in 2026? An In-Depth Guide for Shoppers

Hey there! If you‘re someone who enjoys grabbing a quick bite to eat at McDonald‘s inside Walmart, you may have noticed those golden arches disappearing. By the end of 2024, McDonald‘s will be gone from nearly all Walmart stores nationwide.

But don‘t worry – there are plenty of tasty new options moving in! Keep reading for the inside scoop on exactly what dining choices are replacing McDonald‘s, why this major change is happening, and how to find your store‘s newest eatery.

Whether you‘re a loyal McDonald‘s fan or excited to try something new, this guide will tell you everything you need to know about the future of dining inside Walmart. Let‘s dig in!

Say Hello to the New Restaurant Replacements

With McDonald‘s on the way out, Walmart wasted no time finding popular quick-service chains to take its place. What exactly can you expect to see? Here‘s a detailed look at some of the biggest brands now setting up shop:

Domino‘s Pizza

• Domino‘s plans to open over 30 locations inside Walmart stores so far.
• It aims to reach more customers through convenient pizza pickup and delivery.
• In 2020, Domino‘s saw sales spike thanks to demand for takeout and contactless delivery during the pandemic.
• To cater to mobile orders, Domino‘s is designing more compact stores with smaller dining areas inside Walmart.

Taco Bell

• Taco Bell is best known for tacos, quesadillas, burritos, and other Mexican-inspired fast food.
• According to Restaurant Business, Taco Bell saw sales jump by 6% in 2021 as demand for drive-thrus boomed.
• Taco Bell has over 7,000 stores but sees Walmart locations as a way to access more customers.
• Its menu features customizable, craveable options perfect for a quick post-shopping meal.

La Madeleine

• This French bakery cafe offers soups, salads, sandwiches, and its signature flaky French pastries.
• La Madeleine has around 90 locations in the U.S., with approximately 15 outlets currently located in Walmarts.
• It aims to bring a taste of Paris to everyday dining. Customers praise its cozy ambiance.
• Fun fact: La Madeleine bakes over 50,000 loaves of French bread per week!

Saladworks

• With a focus on crafting nutritious, made-to-order salads and wraps, Saladworks is a great option for health-focused shoppers.
• Beyond salads, it also serves sandwiches, grain bowls, soups, and fresh-pressed juices.
• Saladworks has over 100 locations and is continuing to expand its presence inside Walmart.
• Loyal fans love its array of over 60 salad ingredients and diverse menu with options like BBQ chicken wraps and Buffalo bleu cheese salads.

Wow Bao

• Wow Bao highlights steaming-hot Asian buns filled with savory fillings like teriyaki chicken and chili-garlic shrimp.
• Its menu also includes potstickers, rice and noodle bowls, and sides like edamame and crab rangoon.
• This fast-casual chain has nearly 60 locations nationwide, with plans for over 200 more in coming years.
• Carb lovers rejoice – Wow Bao‘s fluffy bao buns are the perfect way to refuel after tackling your shopping list!

Nathan‘s Famous

• Known for its hot dogs, Nathan‘s also serves up burgers, fries, and other classic American fast food.
• It has over 200 U.S. locations, but Walmart offers a new expansion opportunity to reach more hot dog fans.
• Nathan‘s dates back over 100 years to its start as a Coney Island hot dog stand in 1916.
• Inside Walmart, Nathan‘s provides a tasty dose of nostalgia and a quick meal the whole family can enjoy.

And More…

Beyond the chains above, Walmart is partnering with regional brands and restaurants tailoring options to local tastes in different areas of the country. The variety allows them to bring new flavors into stores to excite customers.

Now let‘s dive into the reasons behind McDonald‘s departure and Walmart‘s expanding restaurant partners.

Why McDonald‘s Is Closing Up Shop

After decades as staples inside Walmart stores, McDonald‘s windows are going dark. What‘s behind this monumental shift away from arguably the world‘s most iconic fast food chain? There are several key factors at play:

Goodbye In-Store Dining, Hello Takeout

• With the rise of mobile ordering and drive-thru access, fewer people are dining in restaurants nowadays.
• In fact, drive-thru and takeout made up over 65% of McDonald‘s total sales in 2020, according to CNBC.
• But most McDonald‘s locations inside Walmart lack convenient drive-thru windows. This puts them at a disadvantage compared to standalone McDonald‘s with drive-thrus.
• As foot traffic decreases, in-store-only McDonald‘s saw sales dwindle. So maintaining the partnership no longer made good business sense.

The Ecommerce Effect

• Similarly, Walmart has experienced a major boom in online sales.
• According to Digital Commerce 360, Walmart‘s US ecommerce sales grew a whopping 79% in Q1 2022 compared to pre-pandemic levels.
• With online ordering and curbside pickup gaining popularity, fewer shoppers are dining in-store before or after shopping trips.
• This drop in foot traffic also contributed to declining sales for McDonald‘s inside Walmart.

A Parting of Ways

• Ultimately, the symbiotic relationship between Walmart and McDonald‘s reached its expiration date.
• As Walmart expands into new areas like healthcare services, and McDonald‘s focuses on takeout, their business priorities no longer align.
• Ending the partnership allows both brands more flexibility to adapt to changing shopper habits and demands.
• While no hard feelings exist, each company feels it‘s time to venture out solo.

How Many McDonald‘s Remain in Walmart Stores?

Currently, around 150 McDonald‘s locations are still operating inside Walmarts nationwide.

But the brand plans to fully exit by the end of 2024, closing any remaining stragglers.

At the partnership‘s peak years ago, there were a whopping 875 McDonald‘s locations welcoming hungry shoppers daily inside Walmart.

So this total pullout represents a dramatic shift after decades as a staple. Soon, every McDonald‘s will be just a memory.

Here‘s a quick table summarizing the McDonald‘s location numbers:

Year	Total McDonald‘s in Walmart
2023 (current)	Around 150
2023 (end of year)	0
Peak years ago	875

Say goodbye to the golden arches, Walmart shoppers!

Why Does Walmart Still Want Restaurant Partners?

With ecommerce exploding and in-store dining on the decline, you may be wondering: why does Walmart still incorporate restaurants at all?

It turns out there are several compelling reasons restaurants add value:

• One-Stop Shopping: Customers love the convenience of grabbing a bite without having to drive elsewhere after shopping. This makes Walmart a true one-stop destination.

• Competitive Edge: Major rivals like Target have Starbucks and Pizza Hut locations inside stores. Retaining dining options helps Walmart compete.

• Impulse Purchases: Per Walmart data, customers who eat at in-store restaurants spend 30 extra minutes shopping on average. 74% make additional impulse buys.

• Store Differentiation: Unique or regional restaurant partners help stores stand out in local markets and build community connections.

• Brand Partnerships: Teaming up with major brands like Taco Bell expands Walmart‘s ecosystem and consumer reach.

So in moderation, Walmart strategically uses restaurant partners to drive valuable foot traffic, engagement, and community goodwill.

How Do You Find Your Store‘s New Restaurant?

Let‘s switch gears to a very practical question: how can you find out which restaurant is replacing your go-to Walmart‘s McDonald‘s?

Here are some tips to get the inside scoop on your store‘s upcoming food changes:

• Check around the McDonald‘s old location for any signage or construction hints about what‘s coming. Sometimes initial announcements happen on-site.

• Call your local store directly and ask a manager about their McDonald‘s replacement plans. They will likely have the most up-to-date, store-specific information.

• Follow your store‘s social media accounts, like Facebook and Instagram, for posts sharing restaurant opening updates.

• Search online for local news articles on new restaurants coming to Walmarts in your area. Oftentimes store openings are covered.

• Check the websites of potential incoming chains like Taco Bell or Saladworks to see if your store is on their new location lists.

• For future openings farther out, you may just need to monitor the options above for announcements over time. Details are usually released a few months before openings.

With a bit of savvy sleuthing using the tactics above, you should be able to unravel the McDonald‘s replacement mystery for your go-to Walmart. Time to put your detective skills to work!

Subway Also Sees Stores Shuttering

McDonald‘s isn‘t the only familiar restaurant heading for the Walmart exits. Many Subway locations inside stores are shuttering up shop as well.

Similar driving factors are at play in Subway‘s downsizing:

• Declining foot traffic and in-store sales as consumers shift to takeout, delivery, and ecommerce
• Lack of drive-thru access in Walmart locations
• Changing business strategies as the brand focuses on digital growth

Subway saw its Walmart sales decrease for the same underlying reasons as McDonald‘s. With lower revenues, remaining made less business sense, leading to closures.

So soon, many Subway and McDonald‘s sites will sit vacant, awaiting their fresh replacements aimed at the needs of modern shoppers.

Other Retailers Also Integrating Restaurants

While Walmart‘s McDonald‘s separation is unique in scale, integrating dining options into stores is a common retail strategy.

Here are just a few other retailers that have restaurants inside stores:

• Target: Starbucks, Pizza Hut
• Barnes & Noble: In-house Barnes & Noble Cafe
• IKEA: IKEA Restaurant serving Swedish meatballs
• Bass Pro Shops: Islamorada Fish Company restaurants
• Costco: Food courts with pizza, hot dogs, churros
• Kroger: The Kitchens in-store restaurant/bar
• Publix: Publix Cafe, some stores have full-service restaurants

Offering food and beverage helps these businesses promote longer dwell times and increased spending. Retail dining won‘t vanish, but brands must adapt to growing digital demands.

The Bottom Line

It‘s the end of an era as McDonald‘s and Subway close up their Walmart locations for good. But new options like Domino‘s, Taco Bell, and Saladworks are racing in to fill the gaps.

Changing shopper habits, the rise of mobile ordering, and declining in-store dining all fueled McDonald‘s exit after decades as a Walmart staple. Nonetheless, restaurants still add value when retailers strategically adapt to evolving consumer behaviors.

Now you have the inside scoop on exactly why McDonald‘s is out and what‘s next for Walmart‘s dining scene. With the tips above, you can stay up to date on your go-to store‘s plans.

The fast food landscape is shifting, but there are still plenty of convenient, crave-worthy options to fill the void. Next shopping trip, peruse that brand new restaurant space and try something new! The tastes of the future are waiting.