MacDonalds-07-03-19: Mark Watson, second from left, addresses the Mesquite Chamber of Commerce crowd and Mesquite Mayor Al Litman, center, at the opening of his new MacDonald’s restaurant on South Falcon Ridge Parkway, Thursday, June 27. It replaces the old restaurant on West Mesquite Boulevard. Photo by Barbara Ellestad.

After months of construction and anticipation, a new, modern MacDonald’s restaurant opened on South Falcon Ridge Parkway near the I-15 Exit 120 interchange on Friday, June 28.

The Mesquite Chamber of Commerce held a sneak peak and ribbon cutting for the new restaurant on Thursday with new owner Mark Watson and his crew hosting.

“This is an exciting time for both MacDonald’s, and we hope for the city of Mesquite,” Watson said at the celebration. “We hope this restaurant will be a new destination and stop for the residents of the city and for all those who are traveling through. We’re grateful to be here.”

Watson purchased the old MacDonald’s on West Mesquite Boulevard and the second MacDonald’s located on Sandhill Boulevard from long-time owners Dave and Colleen Price earlier this year when they retired. Watson also owns MacDonald’s in Overton and numerous others in Las Vegas.

The old restaurant is permanently closed. “MacDonald’s corporation will come in and ‘de-arch’ the building. That is, they will remove all the identifying corporate signs and branding characteristics,” Watson said. “MacDonald’s owns all of the real estate and the building; they will determine what happens with it. My guess is they will sell it.”

While Watson said the two buildings are close in size, “the new lot size is much bigger.” The larger lot allows for easier ingress and egress, more parking for buses and trucks, and two drive-thru lanes.

Watson says the new restaurant employs about 50 employees “and we’re always looking for good people.”

Watson said the biggest advantage of the new store is that it’s located much closer and is more visible from I-15. “Originally, the old location was adequate. But there’s a lot of folks traveling on the interstate. The more convenient you are to the exit, the more convenient you are those people. And, we’re more convenient to local residents.”

He said, “We are so excited to be in our new location. We like the area and the business that we’re able to do here. We’re also happy for the opportunity that the Price’s gave us when we made the purchase from them. They are enjoying their retirement.”