One of the great fast food innovations of our time has arrived.

A McDonald's offering all-you-can-eat french fries opened Thursday in St. Joseph, Mo.

Dubbed the "McDonald's of the Future," the restaurant was swarmed -- so much so that it had to stop taking orders for a period at 1:30 in the afternoon to catch up on ones already taken.

Beyond the fries gimmick, this Mickey D's also features technology in which customers can order at a kiosk, customizable hamburgers with such toppings as guacamole, a dessert bar, table service, couches to create a lounge feel and a child's play area three stories high that also has digital games.

Chris Habiger, who owns the McDonald's, may have summed it up well by saying, "Unlimited fries are just the beginning of what’s different about (this restaurant). We’re making a shift from fast food to fast-casual."

The McDonald's has been hyped for several months after word of the bottomless fries got out. The hoopla may not last, though. That promotion is only expected to last for a few months.

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