A dual-lane, drive-thru McDonald’s is joining Newberry’s Highland Park development across from the new Publix and could open as early as October.
On Monday, the city’s Planning and Zoning Board unanimously approved the fast-food restaurant site and development plan, which includes a 3,859-square-foot building on 1.26 acres.
The McDonald’s will sandwich between a Wawa gas station and Wendy’s. Chipotle, Heartland Dental, Advance Auto Parts and Your Storage Units Self Storage are also planned for Highland Park after approval from the Planning and Zoning Board on May 4.
A representative from Sire Group on behalf of McDonald’s said Highland Park has been laid out so that customers can easily circulate through the different businesses with rear driveways behind the properties and cross access.
They said it takes about 100 days to build a McDonald’s but that they’re hoping this one might make the 85-day mark as the fastest one in the state.
Multiple board members and city staff celebrated the Golden Arches coming to Highland Park. The McDonald’s is technically Newberry’s first, although one opened in neighboring Jonesville at 14124 W Newberry Rd. in 2012.
“I have a hammer, so whatever we need to do to make that 85 days,” said City Manager Jordan Marlowe. “Because you know, Frosty machine or a milkshake machine in there, I’m ready.”
“I would like to request that the McFlurry machine always works. That’s it,” said Member Mellina Parker.
Editor’s note: This story was underwritten by a grant from the Rural Reporting Initiative at the Community Foundation of North Central Florida.