Those driving along M-24 through Oxford will see something they haven’t seen for quite a while around here ? the sight of a new building being constructed.
Ground was broken last week on a brand new 4,362-square-foot McDonald’s restaurant, complete with side-by-side drive-throughs, so two vehicles can simultaneously place orders.
The restaurant is being constructed on a 1.513-acre parcel located on the west side of M-24, north of Market St. and south of Ray Rd.
Township Supervisor Bill Dunn, who attended the ground-breaking ceremony, couldn’t be happier about the project.
‘A new building means more tax revenue for the township. We kind of need that these days,? he said. ‘I hope this project will encourage the developers who own all that vacant land on the other side of M-24 to start doing some building of their own. Maybe this will get something going.?
It’s expected the new restaurant will be built in 70 days and open for business on Friday, Dec. 17.
The existing McDonald’s, located at 280 N. Washington St., will be closed and demolished once the new restaurant is constructed and operational.
Unlike the current facility, which is more than 30 years old and outdated in many respects, the new restaurant will be energy efficient in terms of heating and cooling, electrical power, and the equipment that’s used.
‘That’s a good reason to rebuild right there,? said Rene Rudowski, business consultant for McDonald’s. ‘The layout will also be so much more efficient for service purposes.?
Manager Joan Halsted said the new location will be ‘more accessible? for customers because they will no longer have to deal with oncoming M-24 traffic speeding around a blind curve as they attempt to enter and exit the restaurant parking lot.
‘That’s been a hazard sometimes as you probably already know,? she said.
Being on the west side of M-24, the new McDonald’s is expected to do more breakfast business as morning commuters from the north head south for their work day.
‘We look forward to that,? Halsted said. ‘We should be able to service them a lot faster and a lot better in the new restaurant.?