The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
McDonald’s cooks up plans for modern look
Reynolds Road site latest re-imaging proposed along ‘restaurant row’
Another Mentor McDonald’s is scheduled for a makeover.
James Ptacek of Larsen Architects and McDonald’s Corporation representative Dave Gnatowski are seeking to re-image the restaurant at 7700 Reynolds Road (Route 306).
The project is up for architectural review before Mentor Planning Commission Dec. 21.
“The most significant change to the restaurant will be the removal of the original mansard roof surrounding the sides and rear of the building, which will be replaced with vertical wall surfaces that will extend to a parapet height matching the existing front elevation facing Reynolds Road,” reads a report by the city planning administration.
The upper surface of the new wall will be covered with a horizontal corrugated metal-panel siding in a dark gray color.
The restaurant was constructed in 1983 with a playground addition in 1995.
It is unclear whether the interior will receive updates as well. An attempt to reach a project representative for comment was unsuccessful.
This is the second McDonald’s modernization along Route 306 in the city within the last two years. The 32-year-old store just north of Interstate 90 —
owned by Ali Mandovi — was demolished and replaced with a new design in 2016.
That project represented more than a $1.2 million investment in the city.
The Reynolds Road stretch of Route 306, also known as “restaurant row,” has experienced ongoing renovations and redevelopment in the last several years. Other examples include re-imaging of Red Lobster in 2012, DiBella’s subs — formerly Bennigan’s — in 2010, Cleats became the Happy Moose in 2013, and GetGo gas station replaced two obsolete office buildings in 2014.
“The restaurant market — even for national chains — is a volatile one,” said Ronald M. Traub, Mentor economic & community development director. “We have seen change and will continue to see the market place evolve.”