A host of elected officials traversed mud and busted concrete Tuesday to officially break ground for the construction of a new McDonald’s restaurant at 44 Division St.
Owner Joseph Rodriguez is investing $2.5 million in the project. Work began Sept. 15, when crews began knocking down the old McDonald’s.
It is scheduled to open in mid-December.
Rodriguez said the new McDonald’s will add 60 jobs.
While the new store will be of similar size to the old one, Rodriguez said data shows the Division Street restaurant will see a big uptick in business once it opens. Hence, the new hires.
Drive-thru business drives 70 percent of sales, so the new restaurant will have two drive-thru lanes with three windows, a trend with modern McDonald’s properties.
The goal is to get motorists in and out quicker. To that end, the property will be accessible by car from the BJ’s Wholesale Club next door. The McDonald’s parking lot is being reconfigured to make it easier for motorists, too, Rodriguez said.
The store will incorporate new technology, including in-booth video games for the kids. It will be built to eventually include kiosks where customers can place orders, an emerging trend in the fast food industry.
It will seat about 74 people.
Finally, the building itself will sit at least two feet higher than the previous building. That’s to alleviate constant flooding problems the restaurant had. A new drainage system is being installed as well.
Even with an average of 40,000 cars using the drive-thru every month, the Division Street McDonald’s was not considered one of the big moneymakers in the local area. That will change with the redeveloped store, Rodriguez said.
“This is the heart of the Valley and it was long overdue for the redo,” Rodriguez said.
Rodriguez was joined by state House minority leader Themis Klarides, R‑Derby; Derby Mayor Anita Dugatto and her chief of staff, Leslie Creane; Ansonia Mayor David Cassetti and his director of constituent services, Richard Dziekan; Derby Third Ward Alderman Anthony Staffieri; Seymour Selectwoman Nicole Klarides-Ditria, a Republican who is running to represent the 105th state house district, and; Joseph Jaumann, a Republican who is running to represent the 110th 104th state house district.
Cassetti said he was a kid when McDonald’s first opened in 1972. It was a big deal, because it was the first McDonald’s in the Valley, Cassetti said.
“A couple of years later when I was older it was where everyone would meet. This place was booming,” Cassetti said.
Dugatto said she was happy to see Rodriguez investing in the community and bringing more jobs.
“We have confidence in you,” Dugatto said.
“Derby is on the map. This is part of a bigger picture happening,” said Creane, Dugatto’s chief of staff. She was referring to a recent downtown planning session the city hosted with DPZ Partners. More than 100 members of the public offered ideas. Another session is scheduled for Oct. 26.
Rodriguez said he purchased two McDonald’s restaurants in Derby in 2006. Staffieri was mayor. The two forged a strong relationship, Rodriguez said.
Staffieri said Rodriguez is a guy who gets things done. He pointed to the construction schedule as an example.
“The magnitude of the work is unbelievable,” Staffieri said. “You’re looking at a knockdown and rebuild in what, 87 days?”
“Eighty-two days,” Rodriguez corrected.
“That’s a lot of work to get done,” Staffieri said, complementing Rodriguez’s professionalism.
Klarides said it was nice to see a business investing in the state.
Rodriguez hinted a celebrity, perhaps a professional athlete, will be at the ribbon-cutting when the new restaurant is done.
Former Met/Yankee Darryl Strawberry appeared with Rodriguez in 2013 to cut the ribbon at a new McDonald’s in Bristol.
Rodriguez owns 25 McDonald’s restaurants in Connecticut and New York. He owns Derby’s other McDonald’s at 652 New Haven Ave.
PAL Construction of Coventry is building the new store.
Cutline for top photo (left to right, back row): Raymond Vernet, Rodriguez Family McDonald’s operations manager; Richard Dziekan, Ansonia mayor’s office; Derby Third Ward Alderman Anthony Staffieri; Joseph Jaumann, GOP candidate for 104th state district; name not available; Leslie Creane, Derby mayor’s office; Nicole Klarides-Ditria, GOP candidate for the 105th state district; (front row) Ansonia Mayor David Cassetti; Joseph Rodriguez, restaurant owner; Derby Mayor Anita Dugatto; House Minority Leader Themis Klarides, R‑Derby.
