Henderson McDonald’s reopens after fire

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This article was published 07/03/2016 (3698 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

March 4 could not come soon enough for Ryan McCullough.

That is the day McCullough reopened the McDonald’s franchise at 979 Henderson Hwy. after it burned down on April 14, 2015.

“It’s been a long 10 months.” McCullough said.

McCullough was at his McDonald’s franchise on Osborne Street when he got the phone call the Henderson location was ablaze.

“I followed the fire trucks most of the way,” he said.

When he arrived McCullough watched fire crews battling the flames as winds reaching speeds of 88 kilometres per hour, which blew thick smoke across Henderson Highway.

“The water was evaporating as it hit the building, the winds were so strong,” he recalled.

Once the fire crews left, McCullough faced several challenges. One of course was rebuilding, but another one was how he could help his 80 employees who were suddenly without work, people ranging in age from 16 to their sixties, and most from the surrounding neighbourhoods.

“I’m very thankful.” McCullough said. “Five locations took between three and five employees each, while the Osborne one was able to take 30.”

Many of those employees have returned to help McCullough reopen the new restaurant.
It’s a blessing to have them all back.” McCullough said. “They’ve all helped so much.”

McCullough said the rebuild allowed him to introduce some new features to the restaurant, such as self-directed ordering and paying kiosks which allow diners to pick up their order when their number appears on a screen.

While the restaurant officially opened at 5 a.m. on March 4, the grand opening takes place on Sat., March 12. Meal specials and a noon magic show with Ronald McDonald are among the festivities.

tony.zerucha@canstarnews.com

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