Former McDonald's stands

[GCrites]

For a brief period, Monticello, MN had two McDonalds restaurants. The older of the two is still operational (and was remodeled or maybe even fully rebuilt around the time the second location closed in the mid-2010s). A mile down the road, the newer, c. 2007 McDonalds lasted about seven or eight years before it closed down. It's still standing but has no evidence of it ever having been a McDonalds aside from the building design itself. If I had to guess, a combination of a poor location and unsustainable support for two McDonalds in a town of 12,000 had something to do with it failing so soon after opening. It does, however, surprise me that nothing has taken over the vacant building.

From an outsider, this area looks like one of those retail developments from the mid-late 2000s that had grand plans for the retail/restaurants to go bonkers as soon as it was built but then hit the Great Recession and never saw the amount of development they envisioned. You can tell by the amount of grass, curb cuts to nowhere and empty lots in the vicinity. The expectation was that the local economy would be pulled into its orbit. While the big box stores do nearly the amount of business anticipated, much of the rest never came and the older parts of town maintained some importance. There are areas like that near me.

Was the bank across the street a steakhouse or other sit-down restaurant when it was initially built?

[EpicRoadways]

Was the bank across the street a steakhouse or other sit-down restaurant when it was initially built?

I don't think so. It has the sort of "faux homey" look that pretty much all 1990s and 00s-era banks have in Minnesota.

[gonealookin]

I happen to be in Hillsboro, Oregon this Labor Day weekend.  Here we have the Centro Chiropractic Clinic on Southeast 10th Avenue.  You can get Auto Accident Care and Work Injury Care, maybe even at that drive-up window if it's fairly simple.



This is where, perhaps 75 yards down and on the other side of the street, this fine family stands on Neighborhood Watch.  Apparently their original home was about 1/2 mile away and they were relocated to this city park.



They are angled right at the Golden Arches; one imagines a staredown between them and Ronald McDonald and Mayor McCheese, back when burgers were still being served over there.

[lepidopteran]

Most of the responses to this thread seem to be of the common ’70s/’80s mansard type.

What I find more interesting are the ’50s/’60s walkup type—the ones with one giant arch on each side of the building, a steeply pitched roof, and no indoor seating.

There was also a sort of middle phase: larger structure with indoor seating, but with the building adorned in red-and-white tile.  I think those were quickly converted to mansards as soon as the standard was established.

Even more rare are a sort of hybrid -- a mansard type, but with the original giant arches still protruding from within the building.  I only remember two locations with this design.

• Lanham, MD -- near the I-495 Capital Beltway interchange.  They had an overhead conveyor belt over the dining area to serve the drive-thru.  This location has since been rebuilt with a "classic" look.  I wonder if they reused the original giant arches?  (Note: the retro elements, at least on the exterior, have since been removed.)
• Newark, DE (listed as Glasgow) -- in the median of US-40/Pulaski Hwy, at the intersection with DE-896/Summit Bridge Rd. Since it had those huge golden arches in the building, the fluorescent-light accents were also colored yellow to match.  They also had a larger playground structure on the outside, along with a flat roof over outdoor tables.  I sometimes thought of that place as sort of a grandiose "Welcome to Delaware" kind of landmark. But alas, in the last few years it was replaced with the new battleship grey structure, the kind that followed the "swoosh" design.

[amroad17]

https://goo.gl/maps/bzsoG3rNVpLRtK2N7

I believe this was a former McDonald's in Highland Heights, KY (may have to have bandit957 confirm this).  It looked more like a regular McDonald's about 10 years ago until Klimat built an addition to the north- and back-side of the building.

Or, it could have been an old Hardees.  It sort of looks like one of those.

[capt.ron]

Searcy, AR had an old McDonald's that opened up in the mid 1970's. it closed in late 1991 when the new McDonald's opened up next to the new (at the time) Wal-Mart Supercenter by the 67 freeway. The old McDonald's became a BBQ restaurant for a while, and other places moved in and out. It was razed a couple of years ago and now a Wendy's stands there. Kinda ironic that it got built on the old McDonald's property.

[NJRoadfan]

How about a "new" McDonalds with the arches? This was required by local zoning to keep the buildings on the main route into town with 1950's styling.

https://goo.gl/maps/G3RcJb6L2sxPaKxQ6

Ironically McDonald's is the only fast food place to survive on that road. A KFC, Wendy's, and Pizza Hut all bit the dust a long time ago.

[RobbieL2415]

How about a "new" McDonalds with the arches? This was required by local zoning to keep the buildings on the main route into town with 1950's styling.

https://goo.gl/maps/G3RcJb6L2sxPaKxQ6

Ironically McDonald's is the only fast food place to survive on that road. A KFC, Wendy's, and Pizza Hut all bit the dust a long time ago.

That looks hardly retro, if you ask me.

[ErmineNotyours]

Centro Chiropractic Clinic, Hillsboro, Oregon.

From Golden Arches to fallen arches.

Edit: Whoops, I didn't realize that gonealookin had already posted this location.  Now I'm disappointed that I missed the A&W Burger Family.

[GCrites]

You can tell that one definitely had a playground.

[Big John]

How about a "new" McDonalds with the arches? This was required by local zoning to keep the buildings on the main route into town with 1950's styling.

https://goo.gl/maps/G3RcJb6L2sxPaKxQ6

Ironically McDonald's is the only fast food place to survive on that road. A KFC, Wendy's, and Pizza Hut all bit the dust a long time ago.

There was a more modern McD at Military and Shawano Avs in Green Bay.  It has a old vintage sign  The sign was sufficient to make the decision to tear down the building and build a retro McDonald's there.

[Route66Fan]

A former McDonald's that was converted into a TV station studio (KYOU-TV, Ch. 15), at 820 W. 2nd St, in Ottumwa, IA. From what I've read, this TV station has been in this building since the mid 1980's, or so, when it was still KOIA-TV.

[jp the roadgeek]

I've never seen a McDonald's close in my area. I've seen Burger Kings close. I saw all the Pizza Huts close. I saw the Ground Rounds close. But no golden arches.

I mentioned the one across from ESPN.  Also saw another one on US 6 out in Scituate, RI that I used to stop at that was torn down between 2015 and 2016 (according to GSV) and has not been replaced.

[3467]

I think that was about the time that TV station started in one of the smallest TV markets.

[ftballfan]

I've never seen a McDonald's close in my area. I've seen Burger Kings close. I saw all the Pizza Huts close. I saw the Ground Rounds close. But no golden arches.

I mentioned the one across from ESPN.  Also saw another one on US 6 out in Scituate, RI that I used to stop at that was torn down between 2015 and 2016 (according to GSV) and has not been replaced.

There's a former McDonalds on Huron River Dr in Ypsilanti behind the EMU campus. Kind of an odd place for a McDonalds to begin with as Huron River isn't a major road in that area. It closed back in 2018

[Rothman]

The long-standing McDonald's in Hadley, MA was demolished to make way for Trader Joe's.  A new franchise opened across MA 9 from its former location.

[snowc]

Our local McDonald's has been around since 1973. It was demolished in 2006 for a newer one, and they built one across the street from I-95. Might as well close the older one right by us.

[ErmineNotyours]

Here's a location I forgot about, even though I have eaten at the old and new locations.  They relocated across the street when the former truck stop was developed into a shopping area.  The old store has a distinctive mid-period eyebrow arch, and itself replaced a location next door.  The new tenants don't seem as family friendly.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/y2nKwAVVPkHEa63q7

[Road Hog]

Searcy, AR had an old McDonald's that opened up in the mid 1970's. it closed in late 1991 when the new McDonald's opened up next to the new (at the time) Wal-Mart Supercenter by the 67 freeway. The old McDonald's became a BBQ restaurant for a while, and other places moved in and out. It was razed a couple of years ago and now a Wendy's stands there. Kinda ironic that it got built on the old McDonald's property.

Searcy is one of those weird towns because (among numerous other reasons) Wendy's was always more popular than McD's. The old Wendy's was just down the street on East Race.

[GCrites]

Here's a location I forgot about, even though I have eaten at the old and new locations.  They relocated across the street when the former truck stop was developed into a shopping area.  The old store has a distinctive mid-period eyebrow arch, and itself replaced a location next door.  The new tenants don't seem as family friendly.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/y2nKwAVVPkHEa63q7

How long was it a McDonald's? A year? It looks like it definitely could have been an Eyebrow of Doom-era McD's but there's nothing there in 2012 then by 2014 it's Lover's.

[rickmastfan67]

Here's a location I forgot about, even though I have eaten at the old and new locations.  They relocated across the street when the former truck stop was developed into a shopping area.  The old store has a distinctive mid-period eyebrow arch, and itself replaced a location next door.  The new tenants don't seem as family friendly.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/y2nKwAVVPkHEa63q7

How long was it a McDonald's? A year? It looks like it definitely could have been an Eyebrow of Doom-era McD's but there's nothing there in 2012 then by 2014 it's Lover's.

The 'old' location was gone by Oct '08 per GSV, & was last shown in Aug '07 GSV.  So, I honestly doubt that other building was ever a McD's.

[Stephane Dumas]

There was once a McDonald's in downtown Trois-Rivières on Des Forges Street who closed in 2013.  https://maps.app.goo.gl/bLyxw65BthMBUTkB7  It's now some random store.

[JayhawkCO]

Unless I missed it scanning this thread, no one seems to have mentioned two pretty unique ones.

Vinita, OK - It went over the top of I-44
Adak, AK - Closed when the army base was closed. You can still see the drive thru menu:

[GCrites]

^I think I still have some Bobby's World pogs somewhere.

[TheStranger]

San Francisco has had a few spots that were once McDonald's, with closures accelerating after around 2015.

pre-2015, here are two locations that I have seen photos of online but have since long become other things:

- 1114 Market Street (at 7th), in the gritty Mid-Market area (three blocks away from Twitter headquarters).  Saw a photo of it on FB as a McDonald's, but I remember it more as Donut World which also now is closed. 
https://www.google.com/maps/@37.780599,-122.4125255,3a,75y,348.44h,98.99t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sVVLIGH5bb51qHzdlLADrrQ!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fpanoid%3DVVLIGH5bb51qHzdlLADrrQ%26cb_client%3Dsearch.gws-prod.gps%26w%3D86%26h%3D86%26yaw%3D328.53293%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu

- California and Grant near Chinatown.  Saw a photo of it as a McDonald's at a now-closed Specialty's Sandwich Shop. Now Dim Sum Corner
https://www.google.com/maps/@37.7925106,-122.4059624,3a,75y,316.51h,97.6t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1s0z0-oeg4cfQEGEem5o9zLg!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fpanoid%3D0z0-oeg4cfQEGEem5o9zLg%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D204.4417%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu
---

post-2015:

Former Uber headquarters (1455 Market).  Closed late 2015; a different restaurant is now on the first floor of the building.  https://www.google.com/maps/@37.7758085,-122.4183375,3a,75y,141.01h,86.37t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1saA7SX60Uu_uYBXTXI5ZQBA!2e0!5s20150201T000000!7i13312!8i6656?entry=ttu

Golden Gate at Van Ness, a two-story location.  Closed in late 2015 in anticipation of a condo that was never built.
https://www.google.com/maps/@37.7810502,-122.4203819,3a,75y,32.23h,90t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1s2PNYEkHu5isgSn85bLkGiA!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fpanoid%3D2PNYEkHu5isgSn85bLkGiA%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D26.490318%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu

View when it was still McD:
https://www.google.com/maps/@37.7810515,-122.4203518,3a,75y,32.23h,90t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sbr91znVmBIDtoNJCpnATFQ!2e0!5s20140301T000000!7i13312!8i6656?entry=ttu


3rd Street near the Giants' ballpark, demolished around 2017 and now site of the Baseballism bar.
https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.flickr.com%2Fphotos%2Fmckroes%2F5991155281&psig=AOvVaw1RkfmiF670uIPij5l8OV87&ust=1709255813010000&source=images&cd=vfe&opi=89978449&ved=0CBUQjhxqFwoTCNCE_p-wz4QDFQAAAAAdAAAAABAE

6th and Bryant, closed for a jail expansion that ended up being nixed.  Lot is now public parking.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/spierisf/15770483059

Embarcadero Center/Front Street, closed last year
https://sf.eater.com/2023/11/1/23941995/downtown-san-francisco-mcdonalds-closes
https://sfstandard.com/2023/10/31/downtown-san-francisco-mcdonalds-closes/

Fisherman's Wharf, closed 2022?
https://www.reddit.com/r/sanfrancisco/comments/10cw4z7/mcdonalds_fishermans_wharf_has_closed/

Haight Street near Golden Gate Park, closed in 2018 after years of complaints about crime.  Mansard-roofed location.  Demolished to make way for new construction
https://sf.curbed.com/2018/4/2/17188892/haight-steet-mcdonalds-closes

Standard Oil/Chevron Building on Market Street, closed around 2018.  Had really cool Chevron memorabilia inside and a mural from 1996 depicting a Chevron/McDonald's combo with Arch Deluxes on the menu.  A view from 2014 of when it was active:
https://www.google.com/maps/@37.7898881,-122.4005661,3a,75y,142.1h,82.71t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sCBjRnIbk9dt4dFdGGjjI3Q!2e0!5s20141001T000000!7i13312!8i6656?entry=ttu