Thursday, August 20, 2020

[UPDATE] Wendy's Opens, McDonald's Closes in East Cobb

McDonald's has closed their longstanding East Cobb restaurant at 1305 Powers Ferry Road.  The freestanding restaurant, originally built in 1993, closed as of Sunday, August 16.  No reason was given for the closure but a sign posted on multiple doors/windows at the restaurant said in part  "our staff would like to thank you for allowing us to serve you thru the years!!!"   

The East Cobb closure was in fact the second McDonald's to close Sunday.  ToNeTo Atlanta reported August 13 that the McDonald's in an outparcel of the Williamsburg at Dunwoody shopping center on Jett Ferry Road also closed Sunday after nearly 40 years in business.  

The decision to close the Powers Ferry location is especially baffling when you consider that the 2,600 square foot unit was one of the first to undergo significant renovations, reportedly in part paid for by McDonald's corporate.  The renovation, costing nearly $600,000 according to permits on file with Cobb County, in early 2012, remodeled the restaurant to give it the current more modern [but boring] look it sports today.  

The Powers Ferry McDonald's and several others in Cobb County and around metro Atlanta are owned by "DH Cars, INC" and related entities, all controlled in whole or in part by Dave Hamilton.  In addition to owning several McDonald's franchises, Hamilton, a nearly five decade veteran of the McDonald's brand as not only a multi-unit owner, but as an executive as well, is also the current President of the Greater Atlanta McDonald’s Operators Association.  Cobb Business Journal did an extensive [paywalled] "Executive Profile" on Hamilton in December 2017.  

While locals may no longer have a neighborhood "golden arches," they do now have a place to patronize that has square, rather than round, burgers, as "they don't cut corners."  Wendy's opened a largely brick and almost Frank Lloyd Wright-looking restaurant across Powers Ferry from the former McDonald's Wednesday.  The new Wendy's is part of the new Marketplace Terrell Mill shopping center that will reportedly, eventually, at some point in the future potentially be anchored by a new large format Kroger and accompanying fuel center.  In addition to Kroger, a new Panera Bread with drive-thru is expected to open in the coming weeks along Terrell Mill, along with a new Regions Bank along Powers Ferry Road.  A new Chick-fil-A is expected to open beside Panera, but has yet to start construction. 

The two McDonald's closures come as several of its competitor burger joints have also recently closed outlets in the greater metro Atlanta area.  ToNeTo Atlanta reported August 13 that Hardee's, Burger King and Wendy's closed a total of six Atlanta area restaurants in recent weeks, with Hardee's having been the most recent, closing their nearly 40 year old location on South Main Street in Alpharetta. 

The shuttered McDonald's sits on about .8 of an acre and has an existing drive-thru which will likely make it highly sought after by other restaurants, among others.  

Are you surprised that  McDonald's is closing this Dunwoody restaurant?  What is your favorite fast food burger?  What would you like to see open in place of McDonald's in Dunwoody?  

Please share your thoughts below. 

10 comments:

CloseOTP said...

I used to live walking distance to that McDonald's. Very surprising to see it close. Though I guess with a McDonald's at both the Windy Hill and Delk exits, there are 2 close-by alternatives. I'm sure Wendy's is THRILLED to have one less competitor literally across the street!

Anonymous said...

Had terrible terrible service at this location. Direct contact to Corp Had zero results. The store ignored Corp asking them to contact the customer. Crappy management.

Anonymous said...

Where is my comment

Unknown said...

"Anonymous said...
Where is my comment

August 21, 2020 at 3:11 PM"


This person wins best comment of the year.

Anonymous said...

Sorry to see it close. The lobby area was never super busy when I visited the store. Drive through was always busy.

Strange seating in the lobby with a large round table.


The Papa John's down the street was once a Blimpie and it closed many years ago.

Good luck to the staff. Hopefully they can land a new job.

person :) said...

"Anonymous said...
Where is my comment

August 21, 2020 at 3:11 PM"


This person wins best comment of the year.

August 21, 2020 at 4:19 PM

why? how?

Anonymous said...

I dont know about the Mcdonalds on East Cobb but the one near me has beyond terrible customer service in DeKalb County..So much so that someone told that there is an unflattering meme about it.

Anonymous said...

Their comment probably got removed because it was another one about weenie wiggling or something...

Anonymous said...

Echo the prior commenter that service there was terrible - the drive-thru speakers were frequently "broken" without signage - just allowing people to sit there until they gave up. Windy Hill and Delk locations are more logistically challenging, but I do hate to see one less option on the Powers Ferry corridor, even as we've gained one. The Panera has been "coming soon" for a while and the promised CFA has yet to break ground.

Anonymous said...

Pretty sure the jimmy johns is what used to be blimpie

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