A new McDonald's, at an estimated cost of $2.1 million, will replace this current one at 2308 Island Ave. in La Grande. (The Observer/PHIL BULLOCK).

Coming soon, to the same La Grande location: a new, improved McDonald’s Restaurant.

But in the meantime, plan to drive a long way for your Big Mac and fries.

Plans have been unveiled for construction of a prototype McDonald’s store to replace the one currently doing business at 2308 Island Ave.

"It’s the first of its kind in Oregon. It’s not going to be like any McDonald’s people around here have ever seen before," said owner Beau Willadsen.

Willadsen said the new store will include a state-of-the art Playland, a two-lane drive-through, updated kitchen facilities, landscaping improvements and expanded parking.

The new store will have about the same square footage as the old one, but parking facilities will expand into what is now a dirt lot to the southeast.

The project has cleared all major hurdles at the City of La Grande Planning Department, and is close to final approval from the building department.

Willadsen said construction will start when the building permit is issued, probably about Aug. 15.

The new store will take three to four months to complete. Until then,

La Grande will not have a McDonald’s.

This week, McDonald’s will consider three bids for the project, which has an estimated cost of $2.1 million.

Mike Becker General Contractor of La Grande, Baumgart Construction of Boise and a Seattle firm have submitted bids, Willadsen said.

Willadsen said the store usually employs about 75 people during the summer months. This year, the number is less.

"At this point we’ve got about 35. We haven’t hired because we knew this was coming," Willadsen said.

Willadsen owns McDonald’s stores in Baker City and Pendleton. He said about half of the current employees will commute to jobs at those locations.

"The others, unfortunately, will be laid off," Willadsen said.

He added that the laid-off workers may be re-hired when the new store is complete.

Willadsen said he has been working in partnership with the McDonald’s Corp. on the project.

He said he is happy the launch date is finally near.

"Now that we’re going ahead with it, it’s kind of a relief. We’ve been trying to get it done the past four or five years," he said.

– Bill Rautenstrauch

– The Observer