The McDonald’s restaurant in St. Paul’s Midway neighborhood will close its doors by December 8, according to owner/operator Courtney Henry. The location has served customers for 30 years.
This closure has been planned since 2019 and is part of the United Village redevelopment project. This project aims to transform the area at the intersection of Snelling and University avenues, which also includes the construction of Allianz Field, home to Minnesota United FC.
Dr. Bill McGuire, the owner of Minnesota United, plans to build a hotel and two restaurants in the vicinity following the McDonald’s closure.
In an email to Bring Me The News, Henry explained that he chose not to reopen in the new development due to the lack of drive-through and parking options for McDonald’s. He expressed concerns about the increase in drug use and violence in the Midway area over the past few years, but noted that this was not the only reason for his decision.
Chad Kulas, executive director of the Midway Chamber of Commerce, expressed optimism about the redevelopment. He believes it will bring positive changes to the area, which he sees as the gateway to St. Paul. “A hotel is long overdue for the area,” Kulas stated.
However, Kulas pointed out that the vacant CVS Pharmacy nearby remains a “last corner that doesn’t have positive energy.”
Henry’s father, Louis, bought the Midway McDonald’s from the corporation in 1990. The restaurant was originally located in the Midway Shopping Center, which was destroyed during the 2020 riots following the murder of George Floyd. The McDonald’s was rebuilt at its current location around 1994.
Currently, the restaurant does not offer indoor seating and serves customers through a drive-through or walk-up window.
The building is expected to be demolished soon after the closure.