This spring, two local McDonald’s restaurants are undergoing major changes, with a remodeling at the Wal-Mart location and a complete rebuild at Glendale Road.

Walt and Betty Hadler opened the first McDonald’s in Marietta on Glendale, with their daughter Laurie as Store Manager.

Now Laurie Strahler is owner and operator of the five area McDonald’s and says that, after 35 years, it’s time for a change at Glendale.

“We need a new look, a new facility that is efficient – our kitchen is so outdated and has been changed so many times that we have trouble accommodating all the new products that McDonald’s has gone to,” says Strahler.

She notes another reason for a rebuild. “McDonald’s, nationwide, is doing this fresh new look and to have us all get rid of the mansard roof design that’s associated with McDonald’s and the new look will feature a yellow arch across the top of the restaurant.”

The Wal-Mart location will see different cosmetic changes, along with increased technology.

“We have an all-new register system there, but part of that process is also to make our dining rooms more current,” says Strahler, “It’s going to be really nice, we’re going to have a quarry tile floor and all-new look – kind of turning into more of coffee-house colors.”

She says remodeling in Wal-Mart begins around April and construction on Glendale mid-March. WMOA News asked Strahler how long she anticipates Glendale being closed.

“I know we’re disrupting a lot of people’s daily routine, so we want to get back open as fast as possible,” says Strahler.

She says that, according to McDonald’s, a typical rebuild takes around 90 days.

“We do have a challenge, though, because that store has a basement, so that has to all be back-filled correctly. So, the time frame may be a little longer because it’s a rebuild and not just a new site.”

Once completed, the new store will feature comfortable dining areas, a state-of-the-art kitchen, and side-by-side drive thru’s.

Strahler adds that they’re also 'going green'. “We’re going to do some initiatives using recycled materials, as much as we possibly can, in the dining room especially. We’re going to make an all-out effort to go green, make it very energy-efficient, which it is not now at all – so, we’re pretty excited.”

During the closure, they expect increased traffic at the other McDonald’s, so Strahler says they’ll be moving the Glendale employees to the other stores.