December 24, 2024

‘Experience of the Future’

Creston McDonald’s to reopen with state-of-the-art restaurant in early November

By SARAH SCULL

McDonald's management and staff members watch as crews begin demolition of their building, 608 Wyoming St., 9 a.m. Tuesday. The building was originally built in November 1981. (CNA photo)

The McDonald’s in Creston is undergoing some major changes – a complete rebuild.

On Tuesday morning, members of McDonald’s corporate staff and residents of the community watched as crews started demolition of the building, located at 608 Wyoming Ave., which was first built Nov. 16, 1981.

“It will become what McDonald’s refers to as the ‘Experience of the Future,’” said Mike Rush, director of restaurant development.

Now that the building has been leveled and the lot is nearly cleared out, work will soon begin on the new building. The expanded foot print will accommodate a double lane drive-thru. Its “contemporary” interior is expected to be open with an “airy feel.” Its kitchen will be updated to the “latest and greatest” restaurant equipment and the dining room will feature the addition of touch screen kiosks for ordering and two large community tables in addition to its small group tables.

Due to concerns and uncertainties about the COVID-19 virus and the potential for future mandates for restaurants in the fall, Rush said it is still unclear whether or not the dining room inside Creston’s McDonald’s will accommodate dine-in guests at the time of its reopening.

“Hopefully things will change by November, so when we do reopen we will have the dining room open,” said Rush.

Creston’s McDonald’s is one of 10 McDonald’s restaurants operated under J&D Restaurants. The franchise is owned by David Roberts, who owns a number of McDonald’s in the Des Moines area, in addition to the McDonald’s restaurants in Creston and Osceola.

Rush said he is excited for the rebuild, as the new facility will not only look modern and new but will create more job opportunities, including six management positions, for the area.

“We’re probably going to add 40 to 60 positions, and it will be 15 to 20 more positions than current, based on the expansion and projections on what that restaurant will do for volume,” said Rush.

Rush said building a new McDonald’s restaurant takes, on average, 90 to 100 days. The projected reopening date for Creston is Nov. 10.

“And again, that fluctuates, like building a new home,” he said.

Rush said the new building will serve Creston well into the future.

“It will be the most current, up-to-date, high tech building that McDonald’s has to offer,” he said.