Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
The McDonald's Restaurant on Detroit Street in Warsaw is more than likely coming down in September - to be replaced by a brand spanking new McDonald's 100 days later, according to Nick Carman, operations manager for the McDonald's Corp.
"I'm 90 percent sure it's coming down," Carman said. "We're going through a bidding process now and the bids are out and we don't have all of the permits. It just makes business sense to tear it down and rebuild."
The current building was constructed in 1973 and is owned and operated by the corporation. The U.S. 30E McDonald's is a franchise, owned by Larry DeVincent.
"It has been a very good store location for us, and we'll rebuild on the same location," Carman said of the downtown restaurant.
McDonald's will approach the city about vacating some of the alley west of the lot and the new, improved store will be positioned differently, with the front facing north, the drive-through approach off Detroit Street and the window on the east side.
"We're better off to rebuild in this case - the building is over 20 years old," said the 20-year McDonald's employee. "It will have a much more efficient kitchen and will incorporate the latest 'made for you' practices."
No one had thought about the drive-through concept when the store was built, and to accommodate customers, a hole was cut into the wall of the downtown Warsaw restaurant. About 56 percent of the Detroit Street business comes via the drive-through.
DeVincent will try to maintain hours for the more than 30 employees at his location during the 100 days of construction. Managers will work at other locations in the region. When the store reopens, there will be 60 employees, with a customer seating capacity of 96.
With more than 10,000 stores in the United States, McDonald's has always been open to change and growth. "We're tenacious on our standards and on the quality, yet flexible on the systems," Carman said.
'I"ll be tickled to death if it works out," he said. "It will be a great plus for us and a great plus for Warsaw. This will be a part of Warsaw for a long time."
