Nike’s Basing Shoes Off One Nonstandard McDonald’s

It isn’t every day that my interest in sneakers crosses over with my day job of talking food, but this is a particularly nonstandard day. Nike, Devin Booker, and McDonald’s are coming together to create a pair of sneakers inspired by a very specific nonstandard McDonald’s location. Here’s everything we know about these wearable fast food billboards.

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What’s a “nonstandard” McDonald’s?

A nonstandard McDonald’s is exactly what it sounds like: A McDonald’s restaurant that looks or acts distinctly different from the standard franchise. You’ve likely seen one traveling through the United States (or at least on social media). Famous examples include the multi-floor World’s Largest Entertainment McDonald’s in Orlando, Florida; the UFO-shaped McDonald’s in Roswell, New Mexico; and the Global Menu McDonald’s on the ground floor of McDonald’s Global Headquarters in Chicago, Illinois. (I visited that last one recently to try the chain’s new handcrafted refreshers and dirty sodas, plus a British Philly Cheeseburger.) One of the most visually unique nonstandard McDonald’s sits in Sedona, Arizona, and it’s the heart of today’s news.

What’s so special about this Sedona, Arizona McDonald’s?

The Golden Arches are easily one of the most recognizable logos across the globe, which is why this Sedona McDonald’s is so unique–the arches aren’t gold. Local regulations are very strict about what colors can be used in storefronts and signage (so they don’t clash with the gorgeous landscape). After reviewing the acceptable colors, McDonald’s agreed to change the logo of this particular restaurant to turquoise. The Teal Arches have been turning heads ever since, and Nike is paying homage.

I reached out to documentarian Max Krieger of Nonstandard McDonald’s for his thoughts on this particular McDonald’s location. “Of all the Nonstandard McDonald’s I’ve covered, the Sedona location has a unique appeal – I’ve even done a very limited (copyright friendly) merch run in its trademark turquoise by popular demand. I think the appeal is twofold. For one, even with all of the Nonstandard McDonald’s in the world, there are very few instances of the golden arches not appearing in gold or complementary McDonald’s red. That alone creates novelty. The second reason has to do with how effortlessly it fits into the Sedona lifestyle image, evoking everything from turquoise jewelry to the desert sky. It doesn’t need any huge gimmicks to do that – just the right colorway.”

How can a sneaker be based on a restaurant?

Earlier this week, @nikebook1 revealed a new pair of Nike Book 2 sneakers visually inspired by the McDonald’s in Sedona, Arizona. The sneakers are primarily sandy beige with pops of teal in both the Nike swoosh and a small McDonald’s logo on the heel. The shoe’s namesake athlete Devin Booker plays for the Phoenix Suns, making this pairing a natural fit for two Arizona icons. All the sneaker sites are saying these shoes will release on June 2nd. Let me know in the comments if you’d rock these alternate-universe McDonald’s kicks.