This McDonald’s Allows a Mouse

HOUSTON — Don’t look for Ronald McDonald at McDonald’s newest Houston franchise.

The McDonald’s that John Tillman runs outside the University of Houston offers students personal computers, copiers, fax machines, a video arcade--and pizza.

“In my head was an opportunity to facilitate studies and also an opportunity to relieve stress,” Tillman said of combining computers with video games. “You need them both.”

Student Ed Noack said prices for the services at McDonald’s are cheaper than at a local copy center and the school library.

Larry Zimmerman, regional vice president of McDonald’s, said it took a while for him to accept the computer-video concept for the Golden Arches. Now, he said, he can “see this concept working out very well in our McDonald’s across from Texas A&M; and really any other university area.”