McDonald’s on its way

MORRISON – Residents of Morrison soon will have ready access to Big Macs. At least that’s the current plan.

The city revealed this week that construction of a long-awaited McDonald’s restaurant will start soon on a lot east of Casey’s General Store on U.S. Route 30 on the east side of town.

The developer has gone through the planning and zoning process, so construction should start in a few weeks, said Gary Tresenriter, the acting city administrator.

“This is something positive for Morrison,” he said.

The developer is Tom Kelzer of STW Morrison, a branch of Platinum Realty in Dubuque, Iowa.

He had hoped the restaurant would have opened last year.

He said Wednesday that the Morrison restaurant would be 3,000 square feet, along with 1,700 square feet for adjoining retail space. The restaurant would seat 48 and have a drive-through window, he said. The project is estimated to cost $800,000.

Kelzer said he expected the restaurant to be open by mid- to late August. He said he would lease the building to McDonald’s Corp.

He said he did a similar project with a McDonald’s and retail space in Anamosa, Iowa. He plans to break ground on another one in Eldridge, Iowa, next week.

He said the retail space for the Morrison project still is available.

Morrison already has two fast-food restaurants, Hardee’s and Dairy Queen.

McDonald’s also has restaurants in Rock Falls, Sterling and Dixon.

The Oak Brook-Ill.-based chain has more than 32,000 restaurants, spread out over 117 countries.

A corporation spokesman confirmed that it was planning a restaurant for Morrison but wouldn’t say whether it would be a franchise.

Most McDonald’s restaurants are franchises, meaning they’re not corporate-owned but have a contractual relationship with the chain. A few of the eateries are directly owned by the corporation.