+1. If they are keeping a McDonald's at this location, they should at least make it look as nice as possible. I still don't know why this location warrants a two story McDonald's, I guess they get a lot of traffic from Shepherds Mall workers at lunchtime...

Well there's a lot of hungry students down the street at OCU as well. And gasp, the students and others living by could actually walk to this location if it were not for the homeless people that would surely harass them. Lol. Not to mention, 23rd St. is a very heavily traveled arterial as well.

Is this a franchise or corporate location? As the previous structure was kept purposely as a retro design for as long as possible and was well-known by locals, it's not surprising they had something special for the spot when it finally was rebuilt.

The retro one wasn't there very long. I liked it's look. I remember eating there when it was new and had all the momorabila and the old car out front. There was a similar one to it in Edmond on 33rd. I never been inside of it, but it has been re-painted beige instead of the original retro white. Looks awful. What were they thinking???

Almost all of the McDonald's in OKC were corporate owned when I worked for them a few years ago. The balance has shifted since then, where the vast majority (if not all of them) are now franchised. The Santiago's are the primary owners of the franchises in OKC now, if not mistaken. I can't recall what the corporate franchise ratio was back then or if it is the same now, but think it was something like 25% corporate, 75% franchise (company wide). As corporate would build more stores, they often sold off their older/established stores to franchise owners.

The retro one wasn't there very long. I liked it's look. I remember eating there when it was new and had all the momorabila and the old car out front. There was a similar one to it in Edmond on 33rd. I never been inside of it, but it has been re-painted beige instead of the original retro white. Looks awful. What were they thinking???

Seems like that place had the retro look for about ten years. I remember when they built it. It has only been a few years since they sold the old car off. It was a red and white '55 Ford four door, with the rear door handles removed to make it look like a two door. Later on, I talked with the guy who bought it after it was removed.

Greg LaPat was the original owner of the store who gave it the retro look. Greg used to own ten McDonald's in the Oklahoma City area including Mustang, El Reno, and Kingfisher. He has sold all of his McDonald's except the ones in El Reno and Kingfisher which his son is in the process of taking over. Greg used to be the Dean of Hamburger University which is McDonald's management training school at headquarters. The Santiago family bought the 23rd and Penn store and the Mustang store a few years ago.

Bigray in Ok

It looked kind of small when I drove past it earlier today. Maybe it's because I was in the car either way I'm excited and I hope it's open before late May

Hopefully they'll put a new sign up too.?

If it hasn't come down yet, it is probably staying. Several other McDonald's in the area rebuilt the store but kept the old sign. The sign on the rebuilt store on south Penn & 59th really looks bad and needs to be replaced.

Does the city place height restrictions on new signs? If so, I imagine keeping the old sign lets you keep the height.

Good point, not sure if OKC has taken the Edmond path or not on new signage...may depend on location etc.

West wall going up...
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Yeah I drove by last night and there even further along than that photo shows.

Greg LaPat was the original owner of the store who gave it the retro look. Greg used to own ten McDonald's in the Oklahoma City area including Mustang, El Reno, and Kingfisher. He has sold all of his McDonald's except the ones in El Reno and Kingfisher which his son is in the process of taking over. Greg used to be the Dean of Hamburger University which is McDonald's management training school at headquarters. The Santiago family bought the 23rd and Penn store and the Mustang store a few years ago.

Bigray in Ok

Santiago is, IMHO, the best franchise operator in the metro. Their stores are always astonishingly clean and the service surprisingly quick and friendly.

Well they arebuilding this thing fast, I hope ithe 2 story still has a retro look though

I agree the Santiago ones I have been into have been clean /quick/friendly, bit it seems increasingly difficult to find someone who understands English (for special orders), even among the management staff.

Well they arebuilding this thing fast, I hope ithe 2 story still has a retro look though

Why are you expecting a retro look? The one they tore down was not retro, and the renderings for this one is above.

The one they tore down WAS retro inspired (didn't have the arches coming out of the roof etc, but has a similar look/feel). Notice the retro sign that used to be there too. They replaced the retro theme as much as they could without removing the building...that was next...the new one is anything but retro.
23rd & Penn
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Historic McDonald's
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It looked more retro before they tore out the car hop slots.

This is from Sunday and so I'm sure a lot has happened since then, but there were 3 walls up or mostly up at the time.

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Speaking of retro Micky D's, I was driving through Yazoo City, MS yesterday & I looked over & saw a retro McDonald's. There's also a retro KFC that was recently built about 1 1/2 miles down the road from the McD's.

Today

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This morning

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Thank you for the updates shawnw. Always fun seeing things progress.

It looks like this project has really picked up a lot of steam. At this rate they caould be opening in a few months. Anyone know the opening date?

Usually McDonalds can open in 2 months, they're always aggressive on construction.

Friday morning, 4/5
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It's hard to tell in this picture from 4/10, but brick is going up...

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Morning of 4/18
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Saturday, 4/27

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I can't wait to get a burger from this McDonald's. Really if only for the novelty of it.

Get two, set one on a shelf. Give that one back next year in honor of their first anniversary in the new building.

Get two, set one on a shelf. Give that one back next year in honor of their first anniversary in the new building.

Seriously, you should try this. You'll be surprised to note the burger doesn't decompose. Imagine what it does in your body.

Seriously, you should try this. You'll be surprised to note the burger doesn't decompose. Imagine what it does in your body.

Corn? I don't remember eating corn!

Seriously, you should try this. You'll be surprised to note the burger doesn't decompose. Imagine what it does in your body.

i figure it does what everything else that you put in your body does... it's broken down, and nutrients are removed, and all the rest is released as waste... you just probably get a lot of lipids from it, and then the rest is expelled

Although this building is fairly near my Mesta Park home, I guess that I'm missing the importance of this discussion of its construction and development ... unless the Big Mac sold at NW23rd & Broadway is going to be different than that sold at NW 23rd & Penn, or the Egg McMuffin sold at the new shop would always be toasty with the slice of cheese actually melted and not lying limp, or the circular egg not extending beyond the dimensions of the English muffin, etc. etc. etc.

Of course, if any of those possibilities be true, this would truly become a thread to remember.

Looks like they have a long way to go but they have at least 2 "Now Hiring" banners up

One for each floor.

Although this building is fairly near my Mesta Park home, I guess that I'm missing the importance of this discussion of its construction and development ... unless the Big Mac sold at NW23rd & Broadway is going to be different than that sold at NW 23rd & Penn, or the Egg McMuffin sold at the new shop would always be toasty with the slice of cheese actually melted and not lying limp, or the circular egg not extending beyond the dimensions of the English muffin, etc. etc. etc.

Of course, if any of those possibilities be true, this would truly become a thread to remember.

I heard they're going to keep the grease bins cleaner and the fries are going to be crispier.

Looks like they have a long way to go but they have at least 2 "Now Hiring" banners up

Yeah, at 2 stories, it has topped out.

Yeah, at 2 stories, it has topped out.

Did they put an American flag on top?

must resist from making a snarky comment....

Although this building is fairly near my Mesta Park home, I guess that I'm missing the importance of this discussion of its construction and development ... unless the Big Mac sold at NW23rd & Broadway is going to be different than that sold at NW 23rd & Penn, or the Egg McMuffin sold at the new shop would always be toasty with the slice of cheese actually melted and not lying limp, or the circular egg not extending beyond the dimensions of the English muffin, etc. etc. etc.

Of course, if any of those possibilities be true, this would truly become a thread to remember.

his will be the first two-story McDonald's in the state in a location that by no means needs that density... Do they need that much seating, especially since the McCafe concept has taken off and people actually use McDonald's like they would a Starbucks? Therefore, I think it's interesting from a development standpoint and social standpoint. Yes, it's just another McDonald's, but there are enough differences that I think it's worth noting.

Duly McNoted.

I hope they have an elevator, because I'm not going to walk upstairs with my food. I'm certainly not walking back down after I eat it.

I hope they have an elevator, because I'm not going to walk upstairs with my food. I'm certainly not walking back down after I eat it.

An industrial freight elevator...................

Seriously though, they will have an elevator because they have to in order to be in ADA compliance.

I Imagine an elevator with a toilet.......would be so cool.

Windows going in.

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The other day I stopped into a plain ol' McDonalds location and noticed that they had discontinued the entire Angus family of burgers.
I also marvelled, once more, at the "marketing genius" behind the name of the newest, tortilla based, offering: "The McWrap."
Say "McWrap" about three times in a row and see if you get it.

We can make fun of McDonalds all day..... the fact of the matter is people buy the food on the daily and I like the modern look of this new McDonalds.

The other day I stopped into a plain ol' McDonalds location and noticed that they had discontinued the entire Angus family of burgers.
I also marvelled, once more, at the "marketing genius" behind the name of the newest, tortilla based, offering: "The McWrap."
Say "McWrap" about three times in a row and see if you get it.

LOL

Years ago when I was working there, we joked that we would never come out with a steak sandwich, because they would call it a McSteak. They did and they did and it was. We had to add beef flavoring seasoning to it to give it any taste at all (unlike the burgers that are just seasoned with good old salt).

yes, they have discontinued the Angus burgers. They were part of the premium line and had a premium price tag to go along with it (I honestly couldn't tell any difference in quality so the value for the money wasn't there for me). Supposedly it was a price point based decision and they are going to replace it with different versions of the Quarter Pounder. Although they did that over the years with various lettuce & tomato ones ... remember the McDLT? Didn't have the Quarter Pounder "brand" attached but they used the same hamburger patty and bun. One reason why it failed was they still had the warming bins at the time at the cold side didn't remain cold for very long. Now that they have the humidity controlled staging cabinets, maybe that won't be an issue any more.

honestly, I hate McDonalds and only go there for ice cream cone and maybe some nuggets. But McDLT was my all-time favourite burger from McDonalds. There was something about having the hot, hot and the cold vegetables that when put together tasted so good. I would LOVE if they resurrected the McDLT particularly now with the new technology Larry hinted about and that there may be more environmentally friendly packaging options - OR, just have McDLT for dine-in only!!!

I sort of like The (Mc)Daily Double. It's a little like a Mini-Whopper.
(If they actually had a "Mini-Whopper" maybe they would call it the McOxymoron.)

I used to like the Fish Sandwiches once in a while. Before they doubled the price.
I haven't tried the Fish McNuggets. It's bad enough knowing the reconstituting process behind Chicken McNuggets.

Gotta say one thing about Ray Kroc . . .
If his ego had demanded changing the name of the first place he bought, the sign outside would read:
"Kroc's: Over Half a Dozen Served."

Double Post Cancelled.
Like The Angus Family of Burgers.

To get back on topic, it's getting close. From Monday:

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Didn't get a pic, but today there were marble "McDonald's" signs up as well along the awning on the East and West sides of the building.

The wood rainscreen is quite nice, but I'll be curious how it looks in 5-10 years. OK weather is rough on that stuff, even if it is Ipe or composite.

I like the way that they worked the MM logo into the design in a tasteful, yet not overstated, manner.
Yet, I remain suprised that they would sacrifice the Retro (new old time McDonalds) Model that it replaces.
They could have given their employees a raise instead in order to encourage them to get the order right. =)

I hope they managed to incorporate the "Order Thought Affirmation" software into the Drive-Thru Receptor in order not to impede the flow of vehicular traffic in the immediate and adjacent areas.

Is there a Bicycle Lane?
How about a Walk Up Window Without Going Inside . . . Like for joggers . . .

yeah. right.

I Imagine an elevator with a toilet.......would be so cool.

On topic comments, immediately above, inspired by this ^Classic observation.

"Marble"? Maybe McMarble. Hopefully lightweight and made from recycled materials.
I hope the N.E. /Vinita?/Turnpike "Rest/Picnic/Improvements" take all of this into consideration . . . =)

(a substitute for a simple "Like")

It looked pretty close to done when I drove by on Saturday

Does anyone knowif the new McDonald's will have an indoor playland?

It looked pretty close to done when I drove by on Saturday

Pics or it didn't happen.

Not sure on the Indoor Playland. I can't say that I recall any of the new rebuilds having them??? The one that it replaced didn't have one either.