Columbia McDonald’s to close for demolition, reconstruction

Officials announced Wednesday that the McDonald’s restaurant located on the Business Loop will close Sunday night so a new restaurant can be built.

McDonald’s plans to demolish the current structure then rebuild a new restaurant set to open in the same location by late October.

Business representatives say the Business Loop location was chosen by Ray Kroc, the founder of McDonald’s Corporation, in 1959 and was the first location in Columbia.

The new restaurant is expected to have free Wi-Fi, a side-by-side drive through, digital menu displays, digital ordering screens and a dual-point ordering system that will improve food delivery.