Not only is the new Wendy’s on Riverside Drive near Tom Hill Sr. Boulevard one of the newest designs the company has launched, the eatery sports the first restaurant in the country with its new-style name.

“The restaurant is the new Wendy’s image activation design,” said Pick Lindsay, owner of Calhoun Management Corp., which owns a Wendy’s franchise. “There are four new designs, and the one in Macon is the urban design with the red silo.”

While another Georgia restaurant also uses the urban design, this is the first one that was built from the ground up using this design, Lindsay said.

“There are about six or seven around the country (with this design) that were tested as remodels,” he said. “This is the second one in Georgia.”

While a more subtle change, the Wendy’s name has been changed to more of a script style.

The restaurant, at 101 Holiday Drive N. and Riverside Drive, features several new elements inside not found in the older style Wendy’s.

To help with customer wait times, the counter is “L” shaped and people order at one counter and pick up at another. The restaurant has modern self-serve Coca-Cola machines with 102 flavors, which allow customers to design their own drinks.

And if people want to sit for awhile and use their computers, the new store has free Wi-Fi and a two-sided electric fireplace with a group sitting area.

“There are plenty of outlets for people to charge their (electronics),” Lindsay said. “It has a much more modern feel.”

As the franchisee owner Lindsay was allowed to pick the design out of four choices.

“Since it’s right here on Riverside Drive at Interstate 75, we wanted one with a lot of pop, a lot of visibility,” he said. “It catches your eye.”

South Carolina-based Calhoun Management owns 28 Wendy’s restaurants throughout the Southeast.

To contact writer Linda S. Morris, call 744-4223.