Lakewood Ranch residents cheer construction of a second McDonald’s location
Olivia’s Italian restaurant, Owens Fish Camp and Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse are among the eateries that have been announced for Lakewood Ranch’s Center Point at Waterside development.
But one residents are particularly excited for? McDonald’s.
At first glance, the Golden Arches might seem a bit out of place in the upscale multi-use development under construction on 50 acres, south of University Parkway and east of Lakewood Ranch Boulevard.
But residents have been saying, “why not?”
“McDonald’s is very popular with the kids, and that is why we chose McDonald’s,” Brett Hutchens, president of Casto Southeast Realty Services, said this week.
It will be the second McDonald’s at Lakewood Ranch, and one of the only traditional fast food chains in the development.
The first opened about a decade ago at 11150 State Road 64 E., south of State Road 64 East and east of Lakewood Ranch Boulevard, on the northern edge of the development. The new location is on the southern edge, about 10 miles away, where the newest construction has been taking place.
Hope and Constantin Barbukescu were having coffee at the Lakewood Ranch Main Street Starbucks this week.
“A lot of people like to go and grab a burger. Why not enjoy it? I like the Chicken McNuggets. It’s a quick, easy place to go to,” Hope said.
Constantin said he is a fan of the McDonald’s fries. And the coffee, too, which he said is very good in the morning.
“A lot of people want something on the go. McDonald’s is a destination, like Starbucks,” he said.
Hope added: “If you just want to run in and grab something, it’s the fastest of fast food.”
No opening date has been announced for the new McDonald’s, which is under construction.
Victoria Hankey stopped by that McDonald’s this week to pick up coffee and soda. She said she is a fan of McDonald’s biscuits, an item that’s not on a menu back home in Canada.
There are more than 36,000 McDonald’s restaurants in more than 100 countries.
The company has made headlines recently for temporarily closing all of its locations in Russia because of the invasion of Ukraine.
“We are continuing to pay full salaries for our Ukrainian employees and have donated $5 million to our employee assistance fund, and continue to support relief efforts led by the International Red Cross in the region. We have been overwhelmed by the offers of support across the system and thank you for your generous contributions to date,” McDonald’s said in a press release.
