Pittsfield Township McDonald's to be restaurant chain's latest area renovation
One of the area’s smallest McDonald’s [NYSE: MCD] is poised to get larger.
The owner of the franchise at 5550 W. Michigan Ave. in Pittsfield Township is seeking to add nearly 2,000 square feet to the building's footprint and add a second drive-through lane to the store.
This McDonald's prototype restaurant reflects the chain's newer exterior design.
Business Week
The restaurant is 2,646 square feet, according to township records.
The expansion, said co-owner Jeff Fellhauer, “is just a capacity issue.”
Fellhauer wants to add 1,904 square feet to the building to increase seating capacity to about 80 patrons, up from just over 35. He also wants to make the restrooms larger.
Also in the works are negotiations with Sam’s Club to add a second exit from the McDonald’s that would feed into the warehouse store’s parking lot, according to the township.
Fellhauer said the eventual plans could include adding a children’s play area to the store.
Several area McDonald’s have undergone extensive renovations - including demolition and reconstruction - as the iconic burger chain repositions itself with a higher-end café-style design that often features free wireless Internet service.
Among the stores facing recent changes have been locations on South State and Washtenaw Avenue, both in Pittsfield Township. A store on Washtenaw in Ann Arbor opened in early 2009.
When the renovations are completed at the Michigan Avenue store, it will resemble both restaurants on Washtenaw, Fellhauer said. Staffing also will increase from the current 35-40 employees.
Renovations at area stores are part of a mutli-year repositioning of McDonald's restaurants across the U.S. that started several years ago.
Fellhauer, of Ypsilanti, co-owns the restaurant with his parents, Al and Rosie. They also own McDonald’s franchises in Milan and Dundee.
Their site plans for the Pittsfield Township store’s changes won’t come to the planning commission for a vote until state road officials review and approve them, township officials said.
Meanwhile, Fellhauer said he hopes to see the construction finished by year-end.
McDonald's, based in Oak Brook, Ill., had a market capitalization of $75 billion after its stock traded Monday at $69.91 per share.
The chain operates over 32,000 restaurants in over 100 countries. About 26,000 stores are owned by franchisees.
Comments
ffej440
Tue, Jul 20, 2010 : 1:09 p.m.
Actually I think McDonalds owns this property and building. The franchise holder generally rents from MC Dondalds. Sounds odd but its true, McDonalds is the largest real estate holder in the world.I believe this make over would have been decided by corporate not the franchise owner.
seldon
Tue, Jul 20, 2010 : 10:07 a.m.
Is "food and drink" news so slow around here that the best use of writers' time is to report that an existing chain restaurant, a McDonalds no less, is about to be remodeled? Really?
Barb
Tue, Jul 20, 2010 : 9:33 a.m.
Gah - how do people eat this "food"? Although it makes sense that a McD's near a Sam's Club does well. It's smart to know the clientele of an area.
Warhawk
Tue, Jul 20, 2010 : 8:44 a.m.
Service is spotty, sometimes its great, but I've had a few of those drive off for Wendy's moments. It will be nice to see a renovation here, its clearly a good location, but the inside is pretty bad. And in case people haven't noticed, McD's (and others) is a counter cyclical business. As the economy gets worse they do better because they sell food cheap. Its all the midlevel chains that are going out of business. In general its true the margins on fast food are razor thin, but they are doing considerably better now than at the height of the boom. And don't hate on the food, no one is stopping you from ordering a nice grilled chicken salad.
tdw
Tue, Jul 20, 2010 : 8:14 a.m.
@Annie ok,it's been longer than that than since I tried them.
81wolverine
Tue, Jul 20, 2010 : 7:49 a.m.
@scooterdog: The reason many franchisees own multiple restaurants or stores is because each one doesn't make enough money to make all their investment worthwhile. In order to do well financially, they need to own a bunch of stores. I used to own a franchise business (not a restaurant) and most of them are relatively low profitability. The main problem is the franchisee has to pay hefty royalties to the parent company which really eats into profits. In regards to the Big Boy on Zeeb Road: Are you referring to the former owners who had their Lohr Road restaurant taken away from them due to not paying royalties and other fees? Well, that explains the "making tons of cash" doesn't it? (As far as I know, the Zeeb Road restaurant is now corporate owned).
Anne Bruienne
Tue, Jul 20, 2010 : 7:34 a.m.
I've lived near this McDonald's for over 5 years and 2-3 years ago the service vastly improved. I zip through several times a week for a latte, and grab all sorts of meals there regularly. I'm happy about this renovation!
scooter dog
Tue, Jul 20, 2010 : 7:27 a.m.
Ya right theres zero profit in fast food joints,dream on. Thats why there is a multi yr waiting list to purchase a franchise at m/d's and if there such a low profit business why does most owners own multi locations. I know for a fact that the ex owners of the Big Boy on zeeb rd were making tons of cash. I am not saying that all restaurants are cash cows,but thay are not hurting either
Hmm
Tue, Jul 20, 2010 : 7:01 a.m.
McDonald's is the worst fast food there is the only reason to eat there is for breakfast every once in a while. Other than that I avoid that place like the plague
Paula Gardner
Tue, Jul 20, 2010 : 6:58 a.m.
dading, It is a renovation - not a "scrape" of the current building site, as I've heard the full tear-down/rebuilds called.
John Alan
Tue, Jul 20, 2010 : 6:15 a.m.
Anybody who thinks there is a lot of money in fast food (or in any food business)..... they should do it and get hit with reality. This is a hard work and the owner who puts everything and works 24/7 is the last in line to get a penny (if there is any left). Regardless of renovation or re-build, it needs to be done to improve the sale. I wish them good luck.
tdw
Tue, Jul 20, 2010 : 6:10 a.m.
Does anyone know if service has improved there? I went there twice never been back.I was in the drive thru with 3 cars in front of me. I got tired of the wait went to Wendys @ Ellsworth.Got my food.On the way back the car that was in front of me was just pulling up to the window.
dading dont delete me bro
Tue, Jul 20, 2010 : 5:28 a.m.
will it be an actual renovation? or will it be one of the more popular tear-down and rebuids? regarding the later, it amazes me how much profit there must be in fast food. more of these places are totally leveled and rebuild.