40 South News got a tip from a reader that McDonald’s might be interested in locating on a busy corner in Maplewood.
A connection with a connection hooked us up with McDonald’s USA. Is McDonald’s considering a second Maplewood location?
McDonald’s USA Heartland Region communications manager Neil Getzlow answered the question with a maybe.
“Here is what I was able to find out from our development team,” Getzlow told 40 South News in an email. “We are investigating sites in that area, and also surrounding cities, but don’t have anything definitive yet.”
It could be a factor that the existing McDonald’s, near Deer Creek Center on Big Bend, is in the Deer Creek floodplain, according to a FEMA map on the St. Louis County website.
Also, could the possibility of the South County Connector going by that location at an elevated level be a consideration?
Since McDonald’s is just investigating the possibility, it hasn’t reached the Maplewood city staff.
[…] McDonald’s is looking for a new downtown Maplewood location, and McDonald’s USA Heartland Region communications manager Neil Getzlow doesn’t say they’re not, a major corner could open […]
This McDonald’s location always seems to get awards for their great customer service but if you have been in there lately I’m sure you noticed that the place is in desperate need of a face-lift. The inside is outdated and, to me, the eating and cooking areas look “dirty”. I think company’s that don’t intend on staying at a particular location for long seem to let their existing locations fall below their normal standards. Why pump money into a location that is going to be replaced in the future? For example, the old Schnucks located at Hanley and Clayton roads. That place was run down for modern day standards but there was no need to spend money on upgrades as it was pegged to shut its’ doors permanently. My guess is that the owner(s) of this McDonald’s in exploring other options and that either an “upgrade” announcement or location change will come in the next year or so.
Cathy – I think that spot by the CVS is too small for a McDonalds. It won’t accommodate a full-sized McD restaurant in addition to the drive through. My guess is they are looking at a larger spot than that.
Interesting. I don’t know where they would build in the downtown area. My thought is on that parcel next to CVS, that was the rumor before. We’ll see what happens. Right now it is still in the rumor stage.
This seems like a bad idea. I agree that it would be better if they use an existing structure, but unfortunately I don’t see McDonald’s bothering to do that. I hope they choose a different neighborhood to exploit.
McDonald’s has used existing structures when forced to by city regulations, see downtown Chicago as an example. However, I doubt that their desire to locate in Maplewood would be strong enough to force their hand, so it’ll be up to our council to refuse them out right.
Substandard food from a corporation who exploits their workers isn’t really the kind of thing I want to see in downtown Maplewood (We already have Jimmy John’s). At the very least, it would be nice if they use an existing structure (like Jimmy John’s), rather than build yet another box set back from the street, surrounding by parking that pedestrians have to navigate to get to the front door (like CVS, granted what was on that site before was more or less the same as what is there now, layout wise).
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