Wednesday February 9, 2011
McDonald's plans to move into a former Rally's location
by Billy Wolfe
Daily Mail staff
Charleston Daily Mail
The Associated Press
Plans are in the works to open a McDonald's at the site of the now-closed Rally's Hamburgers on Washington Street East near the Capitol Complex in Charleston.
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CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Plans are in the works to open a McDonald's at the site of the now-closed Rally's Hamburgers on Washington Street East near the Capitol Complex in Charleston.
The corporation has bought the property from the former owner and received a zoning permit from the city of Charleston.
McDonald's is also asking for special permission to have a sign taller than what is normally allowed in the neighborhood.
City Planner Libby Ballard said Tuesday that the fast food giant has requested a variance to construct a restaurant sign taller than 15 feet.
"They want something, I believe, that would be more visible from the interstate," she said.
The city Board of Zoning Appeals has not yet held a hearing on the sign matter.
The company also applied for a building permit on Jan. 26, Ballard said, but that has not yet been granted.
She said McDonald's plans to build anew, rather than use the building Rally's occupied before closing late last year.
"There will also have to be a demolition permit for that address and all the things that go along with demolition approval before they could get started," Ballard said.
She was not sure when the company planned to begin demolition or to open the new restaurant. A McDonald's spokesperson did not immediately return phone calls.
City leaders also recently learned that a small portion of the Living AIDS Memorial Garden encroaches on the property now owned by McDonald's.
Business
Wednesday February 9, 2011
McDonald's plans to move into a former Rally's location
by Billy Wolfe
Daily Mail staff
Charleston Daily Mail
Page 2 of 2
The Associated Press
Plans are in the works to open a McDonald's at the site of the now-closed Rally's Hamburgers on Washington Street East near the Capitol Complex in Charleston.
Advertiser
Council members approved a legal agreement between the city and McDonald's for continued use of that small portion of land.
The garden serves as a place for friends and family of AIDS victims to quietly reflect on their lost loved ones. The project was started in 1998.
The city leases the land for the garden from the state, according to the agreement.
Under the agreement, McDonald's must give 60 days notice if it wishes to use the property.
Also according to the agreement, no maintenance or construction work at the garden is allowed to take place during the lunch rush, and no garden equipment may be stored on McDonald's property.
A nonprofit organization oversees maintenance and upkeep of the garden.
East End Main Street Director Ric Cavender said he is happy to see that McDonald's has invested in the East End.
Cavender said he worked with the company during the planning process.
"They're seeing revitalization take place along that corridor, and they want to be part of that movement," he said. "It's been a really exciting project. I think that the workers at the Capitol will be excited about it, and it's going to a nice-looking establishment."
8 comments:
Wow, so McDonalds really never stops expanding, I didn't know that they were starting taking over existing business! This is very interesting.
Washington is a good location though!
McDonald's is expanding at a fast pace and it is being of such great success. I think McDonald's is going to excell in Washington.
I think that McDonald's shouldn't have demolished the Rally's burger joint. I love Rally's. McDonald's already have a lot of stores and money, so they should have tried and get another location instead of demolishing another restaurant.
McDonalds is truly showing they are going to be in every location so their customers will not be disappointed.
Sounds like a smart expansion plan. Rather than build new McD's next to an existing competitor...go find where they have already gone out of business and replace them. Similar to WalMart's model, although McD's is not replacing existing businesses like WM does.
Interesting article.
The 15 foot McDonalds sign seems really neat and I hope that they get it put up!
Allison
I like this article because it shows that McDonald's is always trying to expand. Also, it shows just how dominant McDonald's is in our world.
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