What I find interesting about these buildings modelling actual brands is that Menards can get the company to agree to do it in the first place. I understand that it's just a licensing fee, but someone also in Taco Bell and Starbucks Facilities department had to actually likely submit floorplans, drawings of each elevation of the building, as well as likely approve the final design by Menards before it went into production. And for how small the model train market is, why would these companies agree to go through all of this work? Are some companies just more friendly to any marketing than others?
I suppose it's the same reason we see some brands of stores and restaurants in Department 56, too. Dairy Queen, White Castle, Ford, etc.
As for vintage vs modern. I like both. We are used to always seeing the vintage versions of places since so many people model those older eras. But I also find the modern versions refreshing because they are something we just don't see in our hobby. The Starbucks, the Taco Bell, and the recently released Duplex are all examples of these. So modern that they are shocking to see on a layout.
