McDonalds comes tumbling down

"Columbus landmark" That's stretching it alittle bit

Kudos to Mr. Hall. I'm glad to see local business leaders taking steps to renovate so many buildings around town. It's really helping the town receive a favorable impression from others. I'd love to see the city begin an group similar to Omaha by Design so that new business have standards in appearance. This would have prevented Wal-Mart from building a swamp in front of the building and avoiding planting any tress whatsoever in the parking lot.

what else is there in this town of "Power and Progress"?

Will there still be a playplace for the kids?

Mile, Columbus already has a Standard Appearance building. It's called the "Behlen Building" Never in my life have I seen so many buildings in one town have the same "unique" look to them.

I hope the owners/leasee' of the neighboring buildings have taken precautions for accomidating the displaced resident rodents/pests.

HOW OLD DOES A BUILDING HAVE TO BE BEFORE IT IS CONSIDERED A "LANDMARK"?? I THINK 32 YEARS IN THE SAME PLACE IS AN ACCOMPLISHMENT! ESPECIALLY SINCE EVERY BUSINESS IN THAT AREA IS MOVING EAST.

I think calling it a "landmark" is still pushing it, but it is nice to see an established business NOT moving east and leaving yet another abandoned building. Thank you Mr. Hall for that! I hope there is some nice landscaping involved, there are a lot of businesses looking pretty crappy around town and if McD's is going to take the time and effort to rebuild making it look nice from the curb up would be good!

The building that used to set on this property before McDonalds came to town back in the mid 70's is still around. It sits on the northeast corner of 11th street and 27th avenue,It's a storage unit now. I remember watching them move it when I was a kid.

Wow, I worked at that Mickey D's when it opened in 1976. What a great place to work! A super mix of kids from Scotus, Columbus High and Lakeview. Hello and congrats to Dennis Hall and his family. I still respect the super customer service and quality I was taught from McDonalds leadership.

Kent Uphoff

I don't know if it is a landmark or not but if memory serves me correct it was the 1st McDonalds in the US built by local contractors. I think it will be well worth it. Way to go Flip.

I quit going to McDonalds a long time ago I was put off by tables and booths not being cleaned up. But most of all by counter help who did not want to bother to wait on some one. Of course during rush hour some one is at the counter. But go at another time of day they will be standing around talking and ignoring some one at the counter. So once in a while I go in and give them another chance but I am not impressed. with the counter help. It seems that only the drive up people are the VIP's

There will not be a playplace. On one hand, it makes me sad because, particularly in the winter, there is no way for kids under 5 to get some needed physical activity. On the other hand, it was pretty filthy and I was constantly rubbing my kids with anti-bacterial gel. But, it shouldn't be left up to McDonalds anyway. Maybe our YMCA could create a padded gym in one of the racquetball courts with ropes and tubes. That is what other YMCAs have done. Anyway, it will be nice to have a new McDonalds. It was time...

re: MIKE

have you ever been in the walmart parking lot and seen the trees planted there? i don't think fully grown trees are just going to spring up out of 3 years time.

blind much?

and the "swamp" is not a constructed thing, this town was built upon wetlands to begin with. . .

Kaytee:

You obviously haven't been to Wal-Mart's in Omaha or Lincoln. They have long rows of trees leading up to each entrance...plants, bushes, and other landscaping lining sidewalks from the end of the parking lot up to each entrance...the outer rim of the parking lots are full of more trees. These trees are freshly planted and my no means tall...but they area easily noticeable and the greenery is definitely more noticeable than the giant cement slab that the Columbus Wal-Mart built. Where are the nice sidewalks? Or the bushes with landscaping around it? There are a couple of planted trees, but by no means anywhere close to what the new Wal-Marts/Targets in Omaha and Lincoln are doing. As far as the swamp...that wasn't there before they built Wal-Mart...alot of these big box buildings do expose a new swamp terrirtory, but usually they do it in one of the corner lots and make it look a little more natrual...such as dredging in the shape of a creek so that any overgrown reeds give the appearance of a natural drainage area...as opposed to making a perfect circle smake dab in the middle of the building and then put a cheap metal fence around it. Why couldn't this have been done on the side of the building or better yet, behind it? Why not make a winding creek/drainage area along the outskierts of the building. No new business is going to take build on the outlier lots Wal-Mart has for sale with this ugly swamp right next to it. A relative of mine has called and written Wal-Mart about the swamp land and all they hear from management is either A) they don't have to do anything to it or B) it has become too unmanageable...sounds like really care about their outward appearance.

To MIKE:
I agree with you but you must look at it from a business standpoint..."a swamp out front means more mosquitos-therefore more bug spray is sold because people don't want West Nile..." duh

I'm sure if that swamp didn't exist Mr. Hall would love to build a second McDonald's on that corner lot where the "bypass" begins. Too bad Wal-Mart only considered the extra bug spray sales as opposed to actually having attractive lots to sell/lease to others.

Face it, Wal Mart can do whatever it wants and our city leaders will bend over and take it. Consider us lucky they paved the parking lot and don't charge for parking. It's not like we have a lot of alternatives. Thank you again city leaders for making sure to protect our downtown businesses and beloved Wal Mart from any outside competition, but gee, I guess we have a new Menards...uh, wait a minute!!!

tear it down, haul it to a landfill and build another one.

The Corner Lot where the bypass begins will soon be occupied by a new United Federal Credit Union building. So no one will build there? Think again Mike.

The "swamp" at Wal-Mart was actually built to catch the runoff from the parking area. There is a second one on the west side of the property next to the new bypass road. I agree, it looks awful, especially with all the litter and weeds along the fence, but it is a legal requirement to have a place for the runoff. They could have done a much more attractive version though, I have seen Wal-Mart's in other towns that even the back of the building is landscaped and architecturally pleasing. The only way I see to change for the better is if we ALL put the pressure to the local management of Wal-Mart and continually bug them to do something about it. They finally got trash cans in the parking lot because enough people complained, perhaps they will do some work to make the place more attractive if they are pressured a bit more. There are a lot of businesses in town that need a little push from their current and/or potential customers to clean up their places. A little green in the form of plantings and cleaning can go a LONG way in the form of how much green they bring in!

The sooner the better -- I need my iced coffee!!!

I really miss all the Arboretums that grew in an enclosed area with the roof open to the sky. If McDonalds would take out the Play grounds and put in shaddy pic-nic areas childen would eat better and respect nature. as it is they torture animals, pull up gardens and have no respect for life. Most try to get by by bulling and hurting others for gradifcation.

Does anybody think that maybe mcdonalds owner Dennis Hall should have tried to sell or even donate the play equipment that was in the old mcdonalds. I drove by and saw the machines demolishing the nice equipment and thought what a shame. It just goes to show that when you are a "big shot," money doesn't mean a thing, but yet this " Big Shot" relies on YOU and ME to make THEM money!! Donating the equipment to the city or to a school would have made a big impression to alot of people. So next time our schools need new playground equipment and OUR taxes have to go up to pay for it, lets all remember BIG $$$$ McDonalds (maybe they will hand out free nuggets)

Jared, I heard the playland equipment could not be donated do to liabilty concerns.

Maybe we can get rid of those mobile eateries or whatever you call those things. Those are making Columbus look ridiculous!!! Where are all the board members at?? Mayor??? Anyone?? Does anyone else agree that these mobile fast food chains or whatever they are look ridiculous and there should be some laws prohibiting that type of sale??

I'm glad to c another fast food place is open in colunbus 24 hrs. That's gonna be good for ev1

I keep thinking of all the people that eat there regularly will now live just a lit'l bit longer.
Thank you whomever is responsible for the demolish---

Who in their right mind would want that germ-infested play equipment? GROSS.

I for one happen to enjoy the "mobile fast food eateries". Have you eaten at any of them? To me they are no different than the sweet corn or melon stands. I don't hear you complaining about them.

Actually, the "mobile fast-food eateries", as you call them, have excellent food. Tres Hermanos sells at the fair and at all kinds of outdoor events. They are usually not "fast-food" either but home-made latino dishes or bbq. I think it's nice to have options and the sight of them does not bother me whatsoever. I also agree with the poster that it's no different than Daniels selling produce and the family that sells the watermelon. It's a great opportunity for people to try local food and produce. By the way, all the empty stores(Old Wal-Mart, old-old Walmart, Menards, Food-4-Less) look far worse than a few food vendors here and there.

To Jared,
The Hall's have done alot for this community. Maybe if some other "BIG SHOTS" would do as much as the Hall's have done Columbus would be a better community. My guess is insurance purposes prevented them from donating it to a charity or the city. If you would like to see a playground they donated, walk through Pawnee Park, I'm not for sure but I think it is by the west shelter.