New McDonald’s reopens in Middletown after a total rebuild

It’s been closed since December, but McDonald’s has completed its new restaurant on Verity Parkway in Middletown.

The 5,284-square-foot restaurant had a soft reopening at 5 a.m. Tuesday and a grand re-opening is planned from 5 to 7 p.m. today, according to manager Stephanie Jones.

The closure period was the first time in decades that there wasn’t a McDonald’s at that location.

The fast-food chain at 2351 N. Verity Parkway demolished the previous building and rebuilt it at an estimated cost of $1.4 million, according to the city of Middletown building inspection department. That McDonald’s opened in 1961 and was rebuilt in 1998, according to a company spokesman. The new site plan reconfigured the building and drive-thru lanes as well as the parking lot.

In December, McDonald’s completed a $700,000 project to remodel the interior and updating the exterior of the building at 3570 Commerce Drive, according to city records. The Commerce Drive location opened in 1979 and was rebuilt in 1999.

About two years ago, another Middletown McDonald’s, 1301 S. Breiel Blvd., was torn down and rebuilt on the same site.

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The Breiel location, which was built in 1972, underwent a huge renovation in 2002 when the late Steve Posey, who formerly owned the local franchise, invested $369,000 into the store, remodeling the lobby, kitchen and restrooms and expanding the workforce there by 12 employees, according to Journal-News archives.

This report contains information previously reported by Staff Writer Rick McCrabb.

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