Hartwell McDonald’s Closed To Be Re-built

By MJ Kneiser, WLHR Radio, Lavonia

One of Hartwell’s fast food restaurants is getting an overhaul down to the ground.

The Hartwell’s McDonald’s will be torn down beginning sometime this week and totally rebuilt.

It is owned by Terry Shugart, who also owns the McDonald’s in Lavonia, Franklin Springs and Elberton.

Shugart said the current restaurant closed last week.

“We closed at 11:59p after the last game of the basketball tournament that we host in Hartwell,” Shugart said. “The actual construction will start probably around the 6th or 7th (of January) but have to take about a week to unload all of the food that’s leftover and remove all of the equipment. Then, the bulldozers can come in and do their thing.”

Shugart said he plans to build a bigger store that will actually encompass two lots and will provide more parking and other new amenities.

“It’s going to be the biggest store McDonald’s builds,” Shugart said. “There are obviously bigger stores in major cities like New York or Atlanta, but this is the biggest store they build. Plus, I’ve added 14 feet to the front to put in an indoor playground. It will encompass two lots including the empty lot I bought and sold to McDonalds where the old DFACS office used to be. That’s where three-quarters of the restaurant will sit.”

Shugart said where the old restaurant is now will be expanded parking for trucks and boat trailers.

According to Shugart, McDonald’s has updated its stores inside and out, but leaves it up to the individual franchisee to decide whether to upgrade.

Shugart said the current Hartwell McDonald’s could no longer handle the increased customer traffic.

“Well it’s time. The lot is real narrow and it’s a real busy restaurant. It was time to give the inside of the restaurant an uplift so I felt like I might as well go ahead and do it all,” he said.

Shugart said he hopes to have the new McDonald’s open for business by mid-April.