Larger, more modern McDonald’s opens today

Aug. 22--Finishing touches were being made on the new McDonald's restaurant this week prior to its opening today along Raleigh Road Parkway near Interstate 95.

The restaurant is be larger than the previous McDonald's that was destroyed by fire in December and eventually demolished. The 5,300-square-foot restaurant, at 5028 Raleigh Road Parkway, is one of the chain's newest models that not only offers a new look but also a double drive-through and a third pickup window.

The restaurant opened at 5 a.m. today and a grand opening celebration is planned Sept. 6, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., with a visit from Ronald McDonald and Grimace. The celebration will be hard to miss with an inflatable of Ronald McDonald planned for display on the roof of the building, said Whitney Williams, a company spokesperson.

"This is the newest, greatest," said Donnie Powell, owner and operator. "The decor is much more modern. We're just glad to be back in business and we're looking forward to serving the people in Wilson and up and down I-95."

The 120-seat restaurant, with red and brown colors, includes wallpaper with the famous Big Mac jingle, "Two all-beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions on a sesame seed bun." The seating area offers variety with booths and tables, different chairs and stools.

A wall near the entrance has the names of cities located along the I-95 corridor and the front counter offers separate order and pickup stations. A digital, vertical menu board electronically changes from breakfast to lunch.

The building's design also took into account the women's restroom, which provides more room than other McDonald's restaurants along an interstate, Powell said. A third drive through window also increases safety for employees who no longer have to walk outside to hand orders to customers waiting at the end of the drive through.

Other restaurant features include a concentrated drink, coffee and ice cream area that is behind a wall and out of customer's view, an employee breakroom designed for video training and a sprinkler system is installed throughout the building, a feature that was not included in the former restaurant that was based on a 1950s model, said Sara Kenzie, a manager and Powell's daughter.

The restaurant does not offer 24-hour service but could in the future. The new McDonald's employs 70 people, which is an increase from the 45 who worked at the former restaurant.

The December fire led some employees to other McDonald's locations in the area, but the process to rebuild took place at a quicker pace than expected, Powell said. Investigators believe the cause of the fire was linked to equipment failure from a rooftop heating and air conditioning system. The total loss was estimated at $1.4 million.

"I've made a significant investment on what we've got and insurance has worked with us to get the building back up as quickly as we did," Powell said. "I'm real excited about it. It's a great location."

The project, which usually takes a year to 18 months, took eight months to finish, with the building going up in 74 days instead of a usual 100 days. Powell expects the larger size and double drive through will allow the restaurant to increase its sales by 25 to 30 percent. Powell owns seven McDonald's restaurants, with three in Wilson on Forest Hills Road and Tarboro Street.

The grand opening will offer 50-cent breakfast and lunch specials including coffee, sausage biscuits, hamburgers and cheeseburgers. Ronald McDonald also plans to do his magic show throughout the celebration time, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Williams said. New billboards announcing the opening were installed on I-95 Thursday.

[email protected] -- 265-7818

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