Colesville McDonald’s Remodels, Strives to be Destination for Customers

Construction workers add the finishing touches to the—as they push towards the local fast food chain’s grand opening debut Thursday, Dec. 8.

The festivities will include community promotions, a month of specials including: free Big Mac’s for a year to the first 150 customers, free sundae with the purchase of an extra value meal on Sundays and $1 for any size premium coffee every day and/or medium fries on Fridays.

Inside of the remodeled restaurant customers can sit on red lounge chairs, peer through new windows, use the relocated drink stations and enjoy the new wall art, plasma TVs and free wifi. The exterior has a newbrick design.

Re-imaging the company is the goal, said Andrew Welburn, 26, Colesville Road McDonald’s Owner and Operator.  

He took over the 12-year-old restaurant in July 2011.

“My customers deserve a restaurant designed to provide the most contemporary and modern experience. It will provide an upscale and safe atmosphere to enjoy for the various businesspeople, Metro commuters and residents of downtown Silver Spring,” added Welburn.

Welburn is a part of the second generation of McDonald’s owners in the Washington-Metro Area. After his father became an owner about 30 years ago , he passed the business sense along to his children.

Collectively, they own 33 restaurants.

“I was born right into the McDonald’s business. It was my first job. I have always been around it. It’s one of those things that you can’t really get away from. It’s almost like a part of me,” Welburn said.

Owning his first restaurant didn’t come easy. Welburn achieved his bachelor’s degree from Atlanta-based Morehouse College with a focus in international studies and business. He continued to Georgetown University to obtain his master’s degree in real estate development.

To finalize the process of becoming an owner and operator for the McDonald’s restaurant on Colesville Road, he had to finish his education at Hamburger University in Chicago.