McDonald’s has plans to build a new restaurant at the southwest corner of Manchester Road and Big Bend Boulevard, according to a letter sent Saturday to property owners and residents of the 7500 block of Ellis Avenue.
Resident John Hendel sent the letter to 40 South News. He said the home owners do not want this to happen.
McDonald’s representatives plan to meet with residents of the 7500 block of Ellis at the Maplewood Public Library Monday at 6:30 p.m.
“We would like to present our plans to build a new McDonald’s restaurant at the current Shell station site at the end of your street. We have reserved the meeting room for this time and we encourage your participation and welcome your questions and comments…” The letter is signed, Tom Maraist, regional real estate manager.
McDonald’s representatives will also present site plans at the Maplewood Planning and Zoning meeting, Jan. 5 at 7 p.m. The plan includes removal of 7517 and 7519 Ellis Avenue.
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McDonald’s area communications manager, Neil Getzlow, hasn’t immediately returned an email asking about the status of the closed McDonald’s on Big Bend, near Deer Creek.
See also: Maplewood officials OK Tim Hortons: 24-hour drive-thru included
See the letter from McDonald’s.
There’s gotta be a way to prevent this from happening. I for one will never go to Tim Hortons. Not after the way they treated my neighbors. Seems we might be able to get the media involved. Bad press for Maplewood but this has to stop, or we will end up being “the crap suburb” next to Webster.
In my opinion a far better location for a new McDonalds in Maplewood would be the site of the present Family Video/pizzeria directly across the access drive from the old McDonalds. Great visibility from Big Bend, and it would be an anchor to the now thriving Deer Creek shopping area. There are no immediate residential neighbors. And, it is above the 500 year flood line. The old McDonalds at Deer Creek is in the flood plain. That is why rebuilding it is so problematical.
Food for thought. Per Google Maps from 7500 Ellis Ave the following McDonald’s are this far away:
-Hanley Rd: 1.6 miles/5 minute drive
-Webster Old Orchard: 1.7 miles/6 minute drive
-Shrewsbury: 2.6 miles/6 minute drive
-Hampton Ave: 3.4 miles/7 minute drive
Do they really think the area in under-served?
And they closed the one in Brentwood on Manchester when they opened the one up on Hanley. I don’t think we need another right in the middle of all of the existing ones.
Our cities main intersection doesn’t need another trash collector. McDonalds is not needed in our neighborhood. It smells of greed. Our city officials didn’t care about the people around Tim Horton’s so they will encounter noise pollution, light pollution and property value lose. There is more to our city in trying to bring businesses to our town without considering the residence and the character. Any town can have a McDonalds, it takes a smart city to have the unique and business be part of our community. There hasn’t been a clear reason for the closing of the McDonalds at Oxford and Big Bend but one thought is that the service was lousy and the grounds and building interior was filthy. We don’t need this or want it.
I live on Ellis and we have a quiet wonderful block. What they are planning is crap. Make a two way street here, take most of our sidewalks away. Traffic with all the kids here that play. People that walk all the time. Why ruin that?? Why even consider this??? What is wrong with these people? PLEASE ATTEND THIS MEETING WITH OUR BLOCK
Public opinion can be powerful when the citizens attend meetings and contact their councilman personally. The City of Rolla kept Walmart from building a “Neighborhood Market” in a predominantly residential neighborhood only a few blocks from an existing shopping center that included a local small chain grocery store. Citizens voiced their opinions and were heard!!!
No. No. No. Just no.
town meeting December 22 6:30 pm-7:30
Where is the Town Meeting ?
6:30 or 7:30 ? Both are in your post.
Who called it ?
Will public participation and comments be allowed ?
And lastly, will all the Council be there ?
No, No, No! What has happened with Quaint old Maplewood? QT was a Wrong move and this is a Wrong move. I am tired of seeing these Mega-Monsters take over and tired of our politicians for allowing it to happen. This is wrong for Maplewood and wrong for this area. When will they learn? They shouldn’t be allowed to take over the old QT site either. Keep them out of the Maplewood City Limits. Do they/you really want Traffic, Crowds, Crime and Litter?! No amount of Money will be worth bringing them into the city.
Complain, and complain and complain. Does it not occur to you folks that the same councilmen are elected over and over and over. Often without any opposition
If you know a better way to run the city, then run for the Council.
But I do agree that the City’s appetite for development borders on greed.
Without complaints from the citizens, how are the council members going to know the tide of opinion? So, yes, the complaints do serve a purpose.
Those residents should also contact their council persons directly and ask them to vote against the McDonalds plan. Those of us, eg property owners, who pay taxes, but have no vote at all, and cannot run for office, can only voice our opinion, eg complain, and hope the council members see the logic of denying McDonalds at that intersection.
I agree that if the same councilmen are elected repeatedly without opposition, who is at fault? Voices, and participation of those voices can create a collective change.
Sad to think Maplewood is selling its small town charm to the highest bidder. When I moved to Maplewood, I liked the urban yet small town feel of our city. You know we may lose our main street businesses next. We are the only city to have a Penzeys spice shop and VomFass. Not to mention our neighborhood Ace Hardware. I truly feel that McDonald’s will do nothing for our city. I also feel the city Council and the mayor (with the exception of Shawn Falkingham) have no idea who actually lives in this city. A lot of us have invested in our homes. We are proud to have historic homes. Tearing two houses down to put in a McDonald’s right next to jack in the box and caddy corner to white castle just seems very wasteful and poor city planning.
The Deer Creek McDs is technically in Webster Groves, not Maplewood. Regarding the appearance of that intersection, it is sad to think that city leaders will in the past 5 years had the opportunity to shape the appearance of 75% of that intersection and fail. A decent looking McDonalds could be put there and fit Maplewood better just like a better CVS design was available but no one lobbies for it because they dont want to loose the revenue. Most retailers have “Urban” models for their building to fit in historic or urban areas, Maplewood simply isnt strict enough on requesting those. Even though the intersection is outside of the Special Business District, which is what really defines Maplewood, that doesnt mean we couldnt have done better in influencing redevelopment to fit the community in a better fashion.
Amen, Luke. Please read my response way down on the comments.
As far as i understand, the shell station is owned by circle k and just leases the property. There lease is not up yet. It would have to be circle k who made the deal and pay off the lease to Schaefer shell. So its basically up to the city council again as to wether or not they will vote it in. Shell has never worried about QT. They cant compete with thier gas prices. They rely on their service dept. And yes, they are.such a wonderful place. Car washes, lions club bbq, and donations to our local school. When i went in to QT and asked cor a donation for ecc trivia night, i was turned down. As well as by cvs. Hopefully lots of people attend the meetings for this!!
It’s sad that we couldn’t have gotten an “urban” CVS design (like the one on Lindell by SLU) and better placed parking. Instead we got something more suited for Highway K in St. Peters.
It’s very apparent, to me anyway, that the Maplewood leadership has very little interest in representing actual citizens. I can’t figure out why they’re still in office. Putting one more high volume business on that corner will congest traffic on a corner that’s already busy. I feel terrible for the nearby homeowners.
Have anyone considered that maybe the reason Shell is leaving is that it can’t compete with the QT across the street? What businesses will the McDonald’s put out of business? Is this the kind of city that Maplewood wants to be?
Underground storage tanks get old. It would take 15 years to pay off the new tanks. Easier to sell and move shop.
How many people have given directions by saying “Turn at Cavalier Ford” or White Castle or the Shell station? If you say turn at McDonalds, CVC, or QT we can just hope they’re in the right part of St. Louis, since they’re on almost every corner.
To outsiders, Maplewood is largely defined by this intersection. It is our front door, even though it’s in the middle. It is a shame that we can not have something more unique than MacDonalds represent us to those folks. Aside from that, loyal MacDonalds customers better have a good cardiologist. MacDonalds has no conscious.
Now Maplewood has 3 abandoned buildings/ex-businesses – old mcd at deer creek, old QT, old Quiznos. Hey Doug: have you heard of any plans for those 3 locations? Anyone?
What about the Shell Station? Have they been made an offer they can’t refuse??? More folks out of work again!!!
Agreed. It sickens me to think my ward will have another abandoned building. Looks horrible and what does it say about Maplewood?
Does Maplewood Missouri have someone approaching small businesses trying to get entrepreneurs to buy those abandon sites, or is that left to the local small business broker? I agree the abandon building look bad. How do you fit the needs of the small business client without knowing the client? Maybe you want to buy and own a business and help historic Maplewood grow? Maplewood is 5 min. from Clayton, 10 min. from downtown , 15 min. from Lambert airport and 33,000 cars pass through Big Bend and Manchester daily. Maplewood is a great place to live.
You forgot about the old Closet Company, TKO, and Manchester Leasing buildings along the Manchester corridor.
I would HATE to think Maplewood will be defined by McDonalds, the bottom feeder of fast foods. One can argue that White Castle, on the other corner, is a St. Louis tradition, and although not fine food, it does have a unique character that has been long accepted. …….. and it has been there since anyone can remember.
You know, Doug, Shell is another business that has been here for many many and even more many years. Of course they can’t compete with QT’s price on gas, because they don’t have a ‘super store’ in their station. But they do have a very good bunch of people (including my son, I have to disclose) that fix and repair (daily) our vehicles. And when they are fixed, they are fixed. That is just one reason for this just not to fly….we just don’t need another fast food place in the space of a square block….we just don’t. Our traffic has really been bad since QT is there….and we all knew it would be. But really, this project that we as a city, and Marty Corcoran, as a city manager, just has to step back and take a long look at. And consider all the good reasons that WE DON’T NEED MCDONALDS ON THIS CORNER !!! We just don’t. I’m talking neighborhood, Ellis Ave residents, Early Childhood Center, traffic, enough 24 hr. businesses now, and just downright dissatisfaction with them bullying their way in, just to make another of their trillion bucks and for really no good reason. We need to all bombard Mr Corcoran with our unhappiness over this.
Pat, I believe we are in agreement. Personally I would be happy for Shell to remain on that corner, as they always have been. Failing that, I would hope that any new business would be in keeping with the Maplewood image that we all want for the future. With McDonalds as our keystone, we will be viewed as the lower class neighbor of Richmond Heights and Webster.
This intersection is our front door. Most people see this intersection first and only later, if at all, see the downtown district. I would hate to think McDonalds will be their first impression.
I am sure that the McDonald’s people knew that there would be lots of sentiment regarding this proposed building site. I am also sure that McDonald’s has a corporate program that helps their franchisees deal with public backlash. That facts are simple, our city council (with the exception of maybe Shawn Faulkingham) does not have an extensive history of turning down projects like this and I am sure this one will get rubber-stamped as well. Ellis road will become two-way, the noise will be increased exponentially for those residents, property values will go down in that area, the safety of adults and children alike will be compromised, the amount of litter will increase, and all for what? Maybe a few jobs and a little tax revenue.
Actually there are maplewood officials against this….thankfully
Plus, they want to make ellis a two way street. Which will make traffic in all the neighborhoods a nightmare. And then you have another school to contend with. The little guys at ecc are a big concern for such a hea y traffic area. Busses, bus stops on Oakland. Its a nightmare already! Hope this is a No,No,No from our council people and mayor!!!
This needs to stop now. I somewhat understood QT taking the old Cavalier Ford spot and Tim Horton’s going in behind CVS. But if McDonald’s wants a non flood plain location they can use the old QT or the Quiznos.
The south side of Manchester between Big Bend and Metrolink deserves a much better future.
I heard this many time in the discussion about Tim Hortons. Why do people think that the old QT or the old Quiznos would be a better location? Just curious.
One reason is that they won’t back traffic up on the congested corner. Both are very close and have a stop light to help with traffic. No other businesses clogging up traffic on the same corner. It would also fill an empty spot that had held viable businesses in the past, so we know they would continue to draw business. It would also keep it off the main corner entrance to our city, hopefully keeping us away from the McGentrified look. Those are my reasons anyway.
I just don’t see the logic in moving the Mcgentrification down the street a few blocks. It will cause the same problems down there. The big complaint about Tim Hortons was the residents and the 24 hour drive through. Everybody said why don’t they just take the old QT building. Well guess what? There are homes next to that site as well. And they would probably have to knock a few of those down as well. As far as the old Quiznos that site isn’t viable. Too hard to turn into when driving north on big bend. I don’t know how Quiznos stayed open for as long as they did. I would be surprised if any business would ever open doors in that spot.
A block of those homes are owned by the private auto repair shop that is located next to the old Quick Trip site with what I believe to be the intention of bulldozing,
The auto repair guy leases to the city of Maplewood what is now being used as a neighborhood park that happens to be located behind the wooden fence. Maplewood has done good by prolonging this process..
This is why Maplewood needs leadership this will embrace Form Based Code for the entire city.
http://formbasedcodes.org/
Doug Miner did report on this and back then McDonald’s spokespeople seemed very evasive about this being a possibility. Are they going to keep the other Big Bend location as well? I know citizens opinion against this will matter very little, especially to our mayor. But is there any way to prevent this?
McNo.
Please, please, please, NO. Ideally, stores like this belong next to the other chains on the NW edge of Maplewood. Im not completely anti-chain stores. I am just opposed to how chains in St Louis suburbs always build in a way that does not support foot traffic. As someone who envisions Manchester road from the Metrolink to Bellevue being walkable (similar to UCity Loop), adding chain businesses is likely another step backwards. It doesn’t make sense to completely separate the highlight of Maplewood (its small businesses) from one of its greatest assets (Metro). Yet, the council seems to repeatedly to do this by allowing these restaurants/businesses/gas stations to be built away from the road.
The loop is full of chains. Starbucks, Qdoba, Chipotle, The Melting Pot, etc.
Yes, but the Loop found a way to blend those chains with the uniqueness of their city neighborhood. That is not the case here.
The chains in the Loop are not drive-thru restaurants, so pedestrians in the Loop aren’t dodging cars coming out of driveways at every other business. That makes a big difference in how walkable an area feels.
Yes, Jon, you are correct in that I should have been clearer and stated “chains in St Louis suburbs [with the exception of the UCity] always build … adding chain businesses [outside of the loop] is likely…” My intent of using the Loop as an example was to imply what Jenn and Colleen have both eloquently captured in their posts.
There is a clear difference between the Loop’s chains and everywhere else’s (including Maplewood). Chains are inevitable. And they are not necessarily terrible for existing. But they are bullies. They demand things in a take it or leave it way. And if you give them an inch they will take a foot. That is the reason I stated it is “likely another step backwards” because I don’t have faith the council will stand up against them and force the citizens’ will on them and have the buildings built in a similar way to the Loop (see Tim Hortons as an example).
This has been in the works for a while, at least a year. In fact, Doug Miner reported on it last November (https://40southnews.com/mcdonalds-eyeing-circle-k-owned-corner-in-maplewood/). Are our memories that short?
It was rumored and talked about in the past but now has been confirmed since they sent the letter out and that is the obivous point of this article to inform people of the fact that it is indeed trying to happen and that they can attend the meetings to prevent it.
Why am I not surprised?
How about NO! What about the OLD McPuke and QT buildings? Are these properties just going to sit vacant for the next decade?
I had a funny feeling this was going to happen once QT was built…
Yep, me too! The intersection now really looks like a highway exit ramp instead of the front door to our city. Just wondering, why weren’t all of you against it when QT was going in? How did you not see this coming? Funny how when after the owner of the property that has the Qt, CVS and donut shop got all of his property leased that the next one was the Shell. Shell has been a good community citizen for our many non-profits. Maybe McDonalds or QT will let the non-profits do car washes and Bar-B-Q’s to raise the money they need. Not. Wake up, the QT would not have worked if the city did not give away the city street Martini. So now we tear down houses to make room for the McDonalds. Surely if the city could give-a-way another street to make the McDonalds work they would. The city could have, should have, helped find a better fit for these corners. This intersection is way too small for this much traffic. Good luck to the young students crossing the street now! I pray that no one gets hurt. Did this corner need to be cleaned up? Yes. Are these the right answers? No. But, Mr. Lessik is now a very rich man at our cities expense. Next look for him to help some people in their local elections. And don’t be blinded, all of the council members have all supported these projects in public and behind closed doors. They are politicians. These mistakes will last many years!
A couple of things, Stan…..we all were very much against QT moving where they did….did it do any good…..no, sorry, but it didn’t do any good, with all of us objecting the move. Unfortunately, QT got their way with our city administration. The second thing is there is not a Mr Lessig….he passed away years ago. His wife is still alive, but I believe there are other relatives that control what happens to that corner….and what happened there. Now we are also all against McDonalds coming in ….. but remember Circle K owns that property, a pretty big conglomeration, and Shell Oil is them, in one form or another. Between them and our city administration they are the ones who make the decisions what happens to the property. Our city manager, pretty much handles the city affairs and I think he is for it. I am not sure who could stop this, unless we can get our councilmen to vote against it.
I did want to also say, that Schaffer Shell does not want to leave…they want to stay, and of course all the employees, who have worked there for years…also want to keep their jobs.