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Construction starts in April on McDonald’s on Grand Avenue
The empty lot on the 7200 block of Grand Avenue and the building to the right of it will be the location for a new McDonald's restaurant. Construction is expected to begin in the spring. | David Pollard~Sun-Times Media
Updated: April 8, 2013 6:17AM
ELMWOOD PARK — A Big Mac or Happy Meal will be a bit more convenient with a new McDonald’s restaurant set to be built in the village.
The new restaurant will be located on the south side of the 7200 block of Grand Avenue, just west of Harlem Avenue.
Construction is scheduled to begin in April.
A portion of the property where the restaurant will be built was owned by the village and had already been cleared to attract economic development to the site.
A special village board meeting took place Feb. 25 where the board approved a redevelopment agreement between the village and Gullo Property regarding the new McDonald’s restaurant.
Gullo Property LLC, of Elk Grove Village, purchased that property along with the site now occupied by Illinois Gun Works to make way for the restaurant. The restaurant will be about 4,000 square feet, including a 1,000-square-foot dining area with 64 seats. The restaurant also will have a drive-through lane and 45 parking spaces.
Elmwood Park Village President Peter Silvestri said the fast food chain would be a positive addition to the intersection.
“It’s good for the community,” he said. “It’s a nice addition to that corner. It will generate some tax revenue and bring some jobs to the community.”
Elmwood Park Village Manager Paul Volpe said McDonald’s setting up in Elmwood Park has been in the works for a long time.
“We think it is great for the community,” he said. “It will bring in tax revenue, about 60 jobs and bring more people to the area.”
Don Mastrianni, owner of Illinois Gun Works, 7229 W. Grand Ave., hopes to keep his business in the village even though the building he’s run his business out for 11 years will be torn down to make way for the new McDonald’s.
Mike Patel, owner of Cardinal Wine and Spirits, 7211 W. Grand Ave., welcomes the new restaurant, which will be just west of his location. He hopes it will bring more business to his location once it’s open.
Volpe believes the new McDonald’s will do that and more.
“McDonald’s will serve as catalyst for even more development in the area,” he said. “It will bring more positive traffic to the area.”
