McDonald’s backs out: residents, Shell employees

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Employees at Schaefer Shell and residents on Ellis Avenue has said McDonald’s has backed out of trying to build a new location at Manchester and Big Bend.

The Shell employees said owner Gene Kohler told them two or three weeks ago.

“Since (Kohler) told us, it’s true. We know it’s not going to happen,” one said. “I think it’s too much of a hassle.” They said the corner is already crazy, that drivers cut through their lot “going 50 miles and hour” to avoid the light at morning rush hour.

The houses on Ellis Avenue that McDonald's wanted to buy.
The houses on Ellis Avenue that McDonald’s wanted to buy.

Dwight Howard, who owns and lives at 7519 Ellis Avenue, said, “It didn’t happen, so everything moved on.” He said he heard about the decision months ago. His house is one of two that McDonald’s had wanted to buy to demolish to make room for the project.

Jim Clipper, who lives across the street from Howard, said he heard from the Ellis Avenue block leader, Bob Oliver, that they backed out completely. “It’s one of those things that’s been conveyed between people asking questions — he’s our block leader, and he would know first-hand,” he said.

“From what I understand, everybody that was involved with that was either fired, resigned or quit,” Clipper said. “The only one that’s left is the one that runs the McDonald’s up in Webster Groves Old Orchard, which was trying to get this one.”

40 South News can confirm that former McDonald’s real estate manager, Tom Maraist, is no longer with the company, as of last year. At the time he said Kyley Mills had taken his place. Mills has not responded immediately to a request for comment.

See also: McDonald’s meets Ellis Avenue residents: free-for-all

Maplewood City Manager Marty Corcoran said by email Monday he hasn’t heard anything from McDonald’s in months.

12 COMMENTS

  1. Excellent news. Keep fast food and business that aren’t committed to sustainable environmental practices out of Maplewood. No more styrofoam, no more disposable plastic utensils.

    • McDonald’s got rid of the Styrofoam clamshell containers 20 years ago and launched a program to remove polystyrene cups 2 years ago.
      Does anybody use utensils, plastic or otherwise at McD’s?

  2. I don’t want a McDonalds on that corner either, so this is good news. But I disagree with the sentiment that the Shell is good for that corner. We have many car repair places in and around Maplewood that do better, more reliable work. And they don’t seem very interested in selling gas either. Not only are they consistently more expensive than QT, as Jon pointed out, but they usually don’t have paper in their receipt machine, their pumps don’t reliably work, and they’re irritated if asked for help. The Shell needs to go, but I’m glad it won’t be a McDonalds.

  3. A McDonalds would have been convenient however that corner can get very congested at times. Maybe another place would be better. Good to see the Shell Station staying on that corner. Besides gas, they provide vehicle and tire repair and inspections as well. Not many stations such as that around Maplewood. They also provide space for many fundraisers such as car washes and BBQ’s for schools, boy scouts as well as a few other charities.

  4. I know this may not be a popular point of view but I’d rather have a new McDonalds on that corner than the old shell station which is often charging 20-30 cents more per gallon for gas than the QT across the street. That Shell station is becoming a bit of an eye sore to boot.

    • I agree with you.
      A lot of people have a problem with McDonald’s because they don’t like the food or that it’s a big corporation, but that company has consistently provided the first step on the business ladder for thousands of young people of all backgrounds.
      By the way, I’ve eaten there once in the last few years, but that doesn’t mean that I think they don’t have a place at a busy intersection.

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