The world’s largest fast-food restaurant chain is opening a new location in Barnhart.
Franchise owner James Lucas said his McDonald’s restaurant will be open in mid-October behind the Mobile On the Run gas station at Catlin Drive and Hwy. M.
The restaurant is currently under construction.
“McDonald’s as a whole is somewhat expanding into areas around other McDonald’s that have reached or are close to capacity,” Lucas said. “So north and south of (the Barnhart location), those two restaurants are pretty high volume.”
This will be the 10th McDonald’s Lucas and his wife, Jessica, have opened in Missouri and Illinois, including locations in Festus, Crystal City, Pevely, Ste. Genevieve and Bloomsdale. He said they own five other locations in Illinois and are in the process of opening another location east of the Mississippi River.
The Barnhart McDonald’s will have a drive-thru and dining area, and customers will have access to the restaurant via Catlin Drive, Lucas said.
While no grand opening date has been set for the Barnhart location, once it opens, the restaurant will have about two months of deals, free events and fundraising opportunities, as well as a family night complete with a petting zoo, face painting and balloon art making, Lucas said.
The restaurant will also invite local first responders for special nights dedicated to them, Lucas said, adding that he will help fundraise for Shop with a Cop, which provides Christmas gifts for local children in need.
So far the Barnhart location has 28 employees who are being trained at the Festus and Pevely locations, Lucas said.
For more information about the Barnhart location and job opportunities, call 636-203-7300.
Lucas said he’s looking forward to opening another McDonald’s in the county.
“We love working in Jefferson County, especially in this area,” he said. “Being able to grow in the Jefferson County area, around Barnhart especially, is great. The people around here are fantastic, and our big thing is we really love just taking care of our people.”