NEWS
McDonald’s to shut its doors
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by Lynn Heidmann
Monday, December 4, 2006
After a long history of serving the University of Wisconsin campus, the McDonald's located at 441 N. Lake St. is scheduled to close Dec. 23 this year.
The property owner recently sold the land to an undisclosed buyer, whose name has yet to be released by the McDonald's office, according to McDonald's Area Supervisor Debbie Eckerty.
Eckerty said the location's closing has nothing to do with the property value of the site. The restaurant needs to be remodeled, she said, and the current location does not provide the space or the layout for successful changes. Eckerty also said if they did try to remodel the restaurant, it would not make enough money to cover the costs in a "reasonably short-term amount of time."
"I do believe [the Lake Street location] had the highest customer count downtown," Eckerty said. "But we can't remodel what we need to and make the money back."
According to the McDonald's website, the Lake Street location is one of the only restaurants in the city without a drive-thru. And Eckerty said the set-up of the restaurant is one of the problems with the location that cannot be fixed.
Yet in terms of business, the location usually does very well, she said, adding the problem is that the customer flow is "totally dependent on students."
"When [students] are gone, there's no business," Eckerty said.
The closest McDonald's to campus besides the Lake Street location is on Regent Street, but Eckerty said not all students would be willing to walk that far. She added that all employees from the Lake Street location will be relocated throughout the city, many of them to the Regent Street location. Eckerty said no plans for a new downtown location have been made.
City Council President Austin King, whose district includes the Lake Street McDonald's, said he was unaware the restaurant would be closing, but added it will not be a loss to the city.
"I haven't heard about McDonald's closing yet," King said in a text message responding to a phone call seeking comment. "But I won't shed any tears if it's true."
But Eckerty said though McDonald's is a fast-food chain, the Lake Street location has a fair amount of history. When it opened, she said, the location was one of the first sit-down restaurants in the State Street area. And Eckerty added that the initial reaction from employees and some customers has been disappointment.
"There's a lot of sadness," Eckerty said. "The location has a lot of history."
University of Wisconsin sophomore Charlie Burns, who frequented McDonald's often as a freshman, said the Lake Street McDonald's is a highly popular location among students. McDonald's was a common meeting place for friends, he added, and the Regent Street location is not a suitable replacement for most students.
"[The closing] is upsetting because that McDonald's used to be my pre-football game meeting place … to get breakfast," Burns said. "People in the area will go to the Regent Street location, but it's just too far."
Anonymous (December 4, 2006 @ 3:42am):
Boo hoo hoo... there are plenty of much better tasting, healthier, and similarly priced local options. Something way better will end up there.
Anonymous (December 4, 2006 @ 6:37am):
noooooo I live off this MacD!!! Whether I am at Grainger or Memorial Library, it is a perfect location! It's the best calorie bang for your buck. Perfect for when your in hurry to class or cramming for a test, and don't have much cash. I am sad.
Anonymous (December 4, 2006 @ 8:17am):
the homeless eat there all of the time for some reason
Anonymous (December 4, 2006 @ 10:03am):
Of course King won't shed any tears - everyone knows he doesn't eat meat.
Anonymous (December 4, 2006 @ 10:52am):
Way to go Austin King, using a text message to respond to a reporter. Can't say I've seen that before.
Anonymous (December 4, 2006 @ 11:34am):
Can't beat a double cheesebuger for a buck!
Anonymous (December 4, 2006 @ 12:04pm):
"But I won't shed any tears if it's true."
Just like I won't shed any tears when he's finally gone.
Anonymous (December 4, 2006 @ 1:33pm):
"I haven't heard about McDonald's closing yet," King said in a TEXT MESSAGE responding to a phone call seeking comment.
LOL awesome
Anonymous (December 4, 2006 @ 2:23pm):
Where am I going to take a shower? I'll miss toweling off with napkins and blow drying with coffee straws.
Anonymous (December 4, 2006 @ 5:37pm):
Ah, yes. Now I am faced with even less cheap and quick places for a bite to eat. Nothing like paying 6 bucks for a meal just as unhealthy as the one I would get at McDonald's for $3 when I am already ten grand in debt.
I love this city.
Anonymous (December 4, 2006 @ 5:41pm):
21st century politics. I love it.
Anonymous (December 4, 2006 @ 6:10pm):
Read: Fast Food Nation!
Thank god.
Anonymous (December 4, 2006 @ 8:33pm):
Gross. If they sold the property it means the new view out my window will be a brick wall of some lame apartment building...no more sunshine in the afternoon for the residents of hawthorne ct. And I would take the smell of fries over the sound of construction any day
Anonymous (December 5, 2006 @ 12:45am):
I'm frightened to learn that my choices of unhealthy eating are going to be severely limited.
