McDonald's In Manhattan 'A Positive Step Forward': Mayor

MANHATTAN, IL — McDonald's is one step closer to opening a location in Manhattan, following approval by the Village's board of trustees earlier this week.

At its Jan. 17 board meeting, trustees approved a special use permit and site plan for the construction of a McDonald’s restaurant at 440 West North Street, also known as Rt. 52, located just north of Manhattan’s downtown.

"This action follows many months of work to attract this new franchise to town and represents another step forward in diversifying dining options for local residents and visitors to town," the Village said in a release.

Manhattan Mayor Mike Adrieansen called the addition of McDonald's a "positive step forward for the Village of Manhattan."

"We continue to work to bring new business opportunities to town and expand the choices for our residents," Adrieansen said in a release. "Working with the trustees and staff we were able to get this done."

The action by Trustees allows for a drive-thru store to operate along Rt. 52. Further improvements to the surrounding property were included in the approved site plan, addressing the concerns of local residents and the trustees. Groundbreaking is slated for April, with opening targeted for fall 2023.

“It was a pleasure working with the McDonald’s team to ensure a quality building design, along with a safe, efficient and aesthetic site layout,” said Community Development Director Marc Nelson.

The Village’s staff had been working with representatives from the McDonald’s corporation for many months to finalize the specifics of the plan.

“Having just started in my new role as Village Administrator, it is great to see this work coming to fruition for Manhattan,” said Village Administrator Nick Palmer. “We hope to continue to bring additional good news on economic development projects soon.”