Business & Tech

"Madison McDonald's" Gets A Facelift

Reconstruction at Maple Ave establishment will last 105 days

Long-time patrons of the McDonald's Restaurant at 544 Maple Ave W have been missing their sweet teas and milkshakes.

The restaurant, known affectionately as the "Madison McDonald's," closed late last week to prepare for reconstruction that will "rebrand" the 44-year-old establishment and also make it more modern.

McDonald's officials have worked with the Town of Vienna for nearly a year on the plans. Originally, they planned to renovate the existing building, but found that the walls would be too damaged in the process.

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Instead, crews will completely raze the site and replace the building with a new structure. The size of the building will increase from 3,442 to 3,553 square feet to accommodate a "utility bumpout" at the southwest corner of the building, according to town documents.

The entire parking lot will be milled and overlaid with new asphalt. The existing curb, gutter, light fixtures, poles and bases will also be replaced.

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Other improvements include:

  • "Cultured stone" on the building exterior
  • A rustic paint color for trim
  • An anodized aluminum storefront
  • Trellises and canopies (both in clear and chocolate finish)
  • A yellow arch-shaped roof cap architectural element painted McDonald's yellow.
  • New facade and directional signs
  • Two additional parking spaces, to increase the total from 41 to 43.

Because the MacDonald's was built in Fairfax County in 1967, and became part of the town in 1993 after the boundaries were re-drawn, town officials allow the location several exemptions from the town code.  That includes permitting the restaurant to have 95 seats, instead of the required 125. McDonald's will also keep its existing setbacks -- which are smaller than the standard dictated by the town's code -- and location of the drive-through lane.

Sara Mariska, an attorney for McDonald's, said construction would only take about 105 days.

"It's a good thing," Mayor Jane Seeman said at a Town Council hearing in February. "We can't live too long without our McDonald's."


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