McDonald’s to leave Read Center at end of semester

For 10 years, the McDonald’s located in Read Center has provided fast-food service to students at late hours and at meal-point convenience.\nBut when the semester ends, McDonald’s will officially close, packing up its menus and remedies for late-night cravings. \nAccording to a Feb. 9, 2007 Indiana Daily Student article, a majority of students were glad McDonald’s is leaving, as it will allow a new Residential Programs and Services-sponsored dining center to come in and offer healthier dining options.\nFollowing the announcement that McDonald’s is leaving, construction will begin on a new dining center, “El Bistro.”\nEl Bistro won’t just serve one type of food, said Sandra Fowler, director of dining services for RPS.\nThe new dining option will serve breakfast items such as waffles and omelets made-to-order all day, with a station to build burritos and other Mexican food options and a deli station to serve healthy choices. A bagel and pastry section will be available as well.\nWhile the options sound similar to other RPS food courts on campus, Fowler said the new food restaurant will not be like Wright Food Court or the others.\n“It will look different and be menued different,” she said.\nFowler said hours will be similar, with a possible 7:30 a.m. opening time to a midnight close. \nAn RPS survey was conducted earlier this year to gain student feedback on what type of restaurant students would like to see when McDonald’s leaves. Options students could choose from on the survey included a breakfast option, a pasta option and a Mexican option. \nThe new food restaurant will try to encompass several of the options, with breakfast and Mexican choices available.\nThe target date for completion is August or shortly thereafter. Fowler said estimated costs are unknown at this point. \nRachel Long, owner of all the McDonald’s locations in Bloomington, said IU has expressed interest in buying equipment for its new dining facility.\nMcDonald’s contract expires at the end of this semester, and RPS, along with the Meal Plan Committee, discussed renewing the contract or finding another option. \nLong said she estimates that 60 or more students are employed at McDonald’s. She said a lot of students worked an hour or two when their school schedules allowed for it. \n“It was a good store,” Long said, as she recalled it was the only place a “triple-quarter hamburger” could be sold. \n“We are absolutely devastated,” she said. “We like being there. We like the students, and we thought the students liked us. But IU thought it was time for a change to be made.”