Batavia McDonald’s is history

BATAVIA – The Batavia McDonald’s is basically rubble. By late Thursday afternoon, the only portion of the restaurant that remained was part of a wall. The restaurant first opened its doors in 1978.

Demolition of the restaurant at 125 W. Wilson St. in downtown began Wednesday to make way for a new McDonald’s, which is slated to open by the middle of November.

John Lardas, franchise owner for the Batavia McDonald’s, said he is glad to see the project finally started.

There had been plans to relocate the restaurant to the northwest corner of Wilson Street and Island Avenue as part of a proposal to tear down a shopping center on the west side of Island Avenue and build a 62,000-square-foot recreation center, but residents in November 2010 voted down a $20 million bond referendum.

He said the 4,155-square-foot building will feature a double drive-thru designed to reduce traffic backups.

The restaurant also will feature modern touches, such as a digital menu board, said Anthony Lardas, John Lardas’ son, who is an owner-operator at the restaurant. The building will feature a touch of the limestone for which Batavia is known.

Anthony Lardas said the limestone on the outside of the building will match the limestone on the Batavia Public Library. He also expressed optimism that customers will embrace the building.

“Change is sad, but change is good,” he said. “People like new and better.”