It’s the end of an era for the McDonald’s at 4834 Langston Blvd.
The fast food chain’s aging Langston Blvd location just closed and is now blocked off with fencing, ahead of its scheduled demolition to make way for a long-planned, modernized building.
After demolition, the company intends to construct a brand new McDonald’s — sans the PlayPlace, to the disappointment of a devoted fan base of small children. It’s unclear whether the well-loved and sometimes-stolen Ronald McDonald will return.
Self-ordering kiosks are planned, as is a new drive-thru design with two order points that merge into a single lane ahead of the pickup window.
The new configuration “allows us to serve our customers in the drive thru more efficiently,” said McDonald’s area construction manager Michele Miller. Previously, it was not uncommon for the drive-thru line to back up onto Langston Blvd during meal times.
Demolition and plumbing permits filed last month are awaiting approval, while an excavation permit was approved last summer.
Miller confirmed to ARLnow that the restaurant closed Tuesday. The hope is that the new McDonald’s will be ready to open this fall, as early as September or October.
