Work could begin soon on the building of a new McDonald’s on the northeast side of Albuquerque.
The structure will keep in place a legacy that began in 1959 when the very first McDonald’s in New Mexico was built at the same 5900 Menaul Boulevard NE site.
The work is seeing the demolition of an existing McDonald’s at that site was built in 1980 and designed to replace the original 1959 structure.
According to news sources, the new structure will have expanded dining space, as well as a modern advanced kitchen and digital ordering points.
The original 1959 structure cost around $125,000 to build and came during a time when the fast-foot restaurant, which was launched in 1940, was seeing its initial nationwide expansion.
By the end of 1959 McDonald’s had 145 stores, on its way to the more than 7,000 it operates today. The footprint of the average McDonald’s, at the same time, has drastically changed from under 2,000 square feet in the 1950s to more than 4,000 square feet today.
Five years ago, the company unveiled an extensive plan to renovate thousands of existing stores, including 840 in Texas, 550 in California; and 360 in New York.
Renovations have more recently been announced for three outlets in northern Florida this year; with a Hartford, Connecticut restaurant seeing a complete renovation several months ago; and one of the company’s oldest locations in Odessa, Texas, opening its doors this fall after a months-long upgrading and renovation.
The oldest operating McDonald’s is located in Downey, California. Opened in 1953, the outlet in 1994 was placed on the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s 11 Most Endangered Historic Places list and has since seen been completely restored.
By Garry Boulard
