McDonald's has closed one of its Atlanta area restaurants after more than three decades in business. The restaurant, located at 2210 North Druid Hills Road at Tullie Circle, just off I-85, first opened in 1991 and closed in recent days, according to sources in the area. The restaurant was long rumored to be in danger given its proximity (and likely inclusion) in the new Children's campus, but a 2018 renovation seemed to suggest it was safe.
Property records also indicate that the Druid Hills franchisee spent approximately a million dollars renovating the building in 2011 and 2018. The more recent renovation brought, among other things, new self-ordering kiosks that upon our visit this week were still inside the largely vacant restaurant.
McDonald's closure leaves one less quick serve restaurant in the area but a new option is coming soon. Burger King and Chick-fil-A are both nearby, with a new Zaxby's slated to open late this fall where it will replace the former Boston Market at the intersection of North Druid Hills and Briarcliff Roads.
Another McDonald's, located on the other side of I-85 at 2071 North Druid Hills Road where the Druid Hills bridge reopened this week after being closed for 90 days, remains open. This McDonald's is smaller and newer having opened in 2013.
Piccadilly Cafeteria, previously located beside the shuttered McDonald's at 2226 North Druid Hills Road, closed on January 3, 2016 and was subsequently demolished. Its former property has today become a new primary arrival road into the Children's campus. (The Tullie Circle access beside the former McDonald's is now permanently closed.)
Children's has already incorporated the former Guitar Center, Performance Bicycle and the corporate offices of The Cook's Warehouse, among other properties, into its campus development. In total, the new Children's campus spans more than 70 acres, with the large tower behind the shuttered McDonald's - the Arthur M. Blank Hospital - scheduled to open September 29.
We asked a Children's representative if they had acquired the McDonald's property and were told:
“Children’s has not acquired the property and was not made aware of the closure in advance. Any questions regarding this property should be directed to McDonalds.”
A representative for McDonald's excess property department told us Friday that the North Druid Hills property has not been sold nor has been it yet marketed for sale.
Interestingly, also located on the campus at 2580 Briarcliff Road is a new location of the Ronald McDonald House, a place of respite for those with family receiving care at Children's. (Ronald McDonald House Charities was started by and seemingly forever tied to McDonald's.) Work is well underway on the $65 million, 98,000-square-foot house which will include 60 guest rooms and 10 transplant suites in Phase One, with 42 more rooms to come.
As for McDonald's, the Oakbrook, Illinois-based burger chain has in recent years also closed locations on Buford Highway in Doraville, on LaVista Road near Northlake Mall in Tucker, on Jett Ferry Road in Dunwoody and on Powers Ferry Road between Terrell Mill and Delk Roads. The Buford Highway restaurant was demolished and rebuilt as a new Popeyes, the LaVista and Jett Ferry restaurants remain vacant, while the Powers Ferry restaurant was demolished and rebuilt as a Take 5 Oil Change.
A McDonald's on Northside Drive near Georgia Tech was damaged earlier this March in a fire and while remediation work started months ago, progress on the building has stalled and its unclear what the next steps for the property are.
Are you surprised that McDonald's closed its North Druid Hills restaurant? Do you think Children's will acquire the property? What is your favorite restaurant in the area?
Please share your thoughts below.
27 comments:
Kirkland's home closes conyers store
Funny that you say it that way! I saw the asst manager Tangee at the Buckhead Library and she checked out a book! And said no more happy meals. 🙁
The first McD's in the area was at 2591 Briarcliff, where Tin Drum is located. I guess they wanted more visibility.
I noticed the closure on Friday. I had assumed the CHOA had purchased it
That's sad! That was a wonderful location for a McDonalds with the new CHOA hospital opening soon.
Few may remember that before this McDonalds opened there was a McD at Toco Hills [now a Wendy's I believe]. I was always under the impression Toco Hills closed and this McD opened to give them more customers from I-85
I think that both should remain and a pavilions should join both buildings together.
When was the midst in the Wendy's location. That Wendy's has been there since the early 80s
I do remember it. The merry go round inside short circuited once when I was a kid and sparked and smoked and scared people. It was going real fast then came to an abrupt stop, ow that hurt my neck! But the hot fudge sundae with nuts was my favorite! And a root beer.
Not surprised. I used to work near that McD's. It easily had the worst service of any other McDs in the area. I would routinely drive to a more out-of-way exit to getr my morning breakfast.
Yeah, I was by the Northside Drive location the other day: graffiti covered plywood across the windows. You'd think with all the GT students there, they would be rushing to re-open
I remember that one.
I am not surprised at all! They had horrible cashiers!! But I’m glad they did close because the other one is better and much cleaner!
Heck, I remember before that location opened, when McDonald’s was on Briarcliff. I rarely used the NDH location.
I agree with one of the other commenters that that location on Dru Hill ended up being the worst service ever.
Now thinking of this As a business, I would not be surprised if we learn there is a McDonald’s restaurant inside of choa .? That would make sense.
McDonald's has been headquartered in Chicago since its move to the city from the suburb of Oak Brook in 2018, many years ago.
Yep. They moved into Oprah’s old studios
Here is the most interesting fact that through all the years Of acquisition planning and construction the McDonald’s managed to stay open, but closed precisely when they’re about to cut the ribbons on the grand opening. That tells me closing the door with part of the business plan. I’d like to understand the agreement.
CHOA is already in process to aquire this parcel folks...Fact
Interesting that someone chose to spend the money on an update and then close. What is the return on the investment? Smoke and mirrors or something else?
That McDonald’s was ghetto, staff was awful and im glad it’s gone. With the lifetime opening, Zax replacing the ghetto Boston market, I’m hoping they keep tearing down the crappy establishments and replace with anything better. Next make your way to Cheshire bridge and level the whole area
Racist
I am absolutely shocked at this closure. That location was set to be an abosolute gold mine. The only on campus restaurant at a brand new hospital? Wow. The only thing I can think is that CHOA is going to pay them a mint for that property to complete the campus without a crappy McDonalds right in front.
I remember both the McDonalds where Tin Roof is and the one at Toco. I could easily walk to the one on Briarcliff from my house when growing up and we used to go to the Toco location for our victory hamburgers whenever our baseball team won games playing at Briarcliff Community Sports. They were right in front of Hickok's Sporting Goods, which was a big program sponsor. Those were great times.
Emory bought the Bank of America and Suntrust? What are they building, another hospital? Is North Druid Hill going to be the next Pill Hill?
The state took the land to build out North Druid Hills road, and whatever Executive Parkway is going to look like when they tear down the two bank buildings.
It's Tin Roof the bar/restaurant/Live music business, not Tin Drum, which is a QSR across the street.
The update was 5 years ago and it was corporate mandated. McDs requires dining room refreshes every 10-15 years. Plus, if the hospital or whichever entity decided to purchase that property from Mcds corporation, the operator will get something from it. Regardless of the renovation
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