New Hope for Old McDonald’s Restaurant in Endwell

Some recent signs of activity outside a closed McDonald's restaurant in Endwell have residents wondering whether a new business will be opening at the site.

The fast food operation at 3333 East Main Street closed suddenly 18 months ago. McDonald's representatives did not say why the place was shut down 23 years after it opened at the site of the old Hooper School.

The property has been owned by Golden Arch Limited Partership, a McDonald's real estate unit. The town of Union's governmental offices were in the former school building before the structure was sold to McDonald's for $82,000 in 1997.

The old school was demolished and a restaurant building was constructed on the site. The property's full market value now is $1.2 million.

After the restaurant closed early last year, the McDonald's signage at the site was removed and most of the equipment in the building was removed.

Since then, people in the Endwell neighborhood have been keeping an eye on the place with a hope that someone would buy the property and redevelop it.

A few weeks ago, big concrete blocks suddenly were placed at all entrances to the property prompting speculation that it had been sold.

Town supervisor Robert Mack said he hasn't heard anything to indicate the site has changed hands. He said he's not aware of any plans for a new business for the location.

Although there have been no announcements, there is an indication that something's may be in the works. Online property records now list the owner of the 1.7-acre site as "UNKNOWN."

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Contact WNBF News reporter Bob Joseph: bob@wnbf.com. For breaking news and updates on developing stories, follow @BinghamtonNow on Twitter.