By ANTHONY BOTTAN
The days of the old red and yellow McDonald's at 121 Merrick Road are officially numbered.
Widespread renovations will begin at the Merrick Road McDonald's in Lynbrook this spring, and the aesthetics of the fast food chain will be vastly different. Instead of the traditional red and yellow color scheme that most McDonald's implore, the newly renovated McDonald's will be a one-story, masonry building, and will resemble a suburban home, rather than a fast-food restaurant. The design of the new McDonald's is comparable to the colonial McDonald's in New Hyde Park. Dan McVeigh, McDonald's New York metro region real estate manager, said the renovation was needed to better serve the changing needs of its customers.
"In order for us to continue doing business with our customers, we need to evolve with their changing needs," McVeigh said. "We are renovating the Lynbrook McDonald's to provide our customers a relevant, contemporary, inviting, dining experience."
One of the main complaints from residents who live behind the McDonald's on Washington Street was the noise from customers using the drive-thru window. Originally, the drive-thru loudspeaker was located behind the McDonald's, fairly close to the neighboring homes on Washington Street. The renovations will move the drive-thru window away from the those homes and closer to Merrick Road. The main entrance will be off Merrick Road, but the existing parking lot on Charles Street will remain. Village Trustee Richard Clifford said the modernized McDonald's will be a plus for the village. "I think it will be a huge positive for the village," he said. "It will bring a more modern facility with a suburban feel, which should also mitigate any odor impact from cooking."
Smell was the only concern for 40-year Lynbrook resident Sue Rosino, who lives behind the McDonald's on Washington Street. "My son was on the first crew they ever had," Rosino said. "There's not too much noise, but the only thing I don't like is the smell. It kinda stinks."
However, another resident on Washington Street, who spoke under the condition of anonymity, said she had problems with McDonald's and is not happy with the current situation. "We have had problems with the noise and lights," she said. "It's very disturbing to us and the residents."
The new design, Clifford said, will hopefully alleviate some of these problems. Other neighbors of McDonald's, like Jeff Greenfield, owner of NGL Insurance on Merrick Road, which is less than 100 yards from the fast-food restaurant, said he is very pleased with the new, more suburban design. "McDonald's and their architect and engineer did a wonderful job redesigning the place," Greenfield said. "It's going to be a showplace worthy of the cover of the annual report for McDonald's."
Before the demolition of the McDonald's, the Lynbrook Fire Department will use the building as a training facility. According to Lynbrook Fire Department Chief Robert Occhipinti, the fire department will simulate a fire by smoking out the building with a smoke machine, then stretch lines into the restaurant. Occhipinti said the fire department will not set fire to the McDonald's.
McDonald's representatives could not share specifics about cost of the renovation because of varying construction expenses, but said it considers the renovation as an investment for their business and customers.
"The renovations start in spring 2008 and will be completed before the end of the summer," McVeigh said. "The comfortable seating, hued lighting, zoned music, contemporary art will provide our customers with a memorable dining experience."
Comments about this story? Abottan@ liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 246.
