Havre’s McDonald’s restaurant is being revamped with a new playground, new ordering area and a vastly revised dining room. The work should be ready by early October. And a new drive-through area with two lanes to ease congestion will be ready by the end of October.
The dining room and three sides of the building are being redone, said Jeff Ralph, who with his wife Norma, owns the McDonald’s franchise in Havre.
The dining room is closed during Phase 1 of the project, he said. When that is done, hopefully by Oct. 6 or Oct. 7, the drive-through will be shut down, and the new dining room will be opened.
The building will have a “whole new look” with wood and stone, materials that can be found in Montana. With the rearranging, there will be a little extra room in the dining room, he said.
For the first time, table service will be offered, he said.
Everything is going well, and the work is on schedule, Ralph said.
“They have the tile done on the inside now, and it looks real good.”
When the project is complete, there will be a digital drive-through. There will be signs with more pictures and graphics as there is on the inside, and people will have an easier time placing orders, Ralph said.
While a Billings firm is the contractor, he said, the subcontractors are local, and the workers are local, helping fuel the Havre economy.
The Ralphs have owned the local franchise for 12 years. It has taken seven years for McDonald’s to approve the renovation plans. The Ralphs and the company have gone back and forth on how to proceed, he said.
At one time, a new building elsewhere in town was considered a possibility, but he said he was pleased with the way things turned out.
“I think this will be real nice for the City of Havre,” he said. “I think this is really great the people of Havre have allowed us to do this.”
When the entire project is complete, there may be a ribbon-cutting ceremony, depending on what the Hi-Line winter allows.
The Ralphs are looking for 15 new employees — crew members and supervisor — to help out when both parts of the restaurant open. People can call the restaurant, 265-1831, and ask for Jeff, or pick up an application at the drive-through.
They offer great benefits for young people, he said, including a $50 bonus for every grade of A they earn at school.
There are many college scholarship programs available as well.
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