Mickey D's to move down Folly Road

New building planned near restaurant site

A new McDonald's restaurant is coming to James Island, about a tenth of a mile from the one now serving Big Macs.

McDonald's Corp. received preliminary approval for the new building May 22 by the city of Charleston's Commercial Corridor Design Review Board. After it receives final approval, the company will begin construction at 333 Folly Road, just south of Captain D's.

The three buildings currently on the property will be torn down.

Construction of the 5,000-square-foot building will take about 90 days, said Gary Zonitch, associate area construction manager.

Once the new building is complete, the McDonald's at 319 Folly Road will be shut down and the property will be sold, said Philip Wall of the company's real estate department.

The new McDonald's will be a larger, more modern, energy-efficient building, said Danielle Williams of Atlanta-based FRA Engineering. It will be a "high-impact building" with clean, sleek lines, she said. It will include more patron space, as well as an indoor playground.

McDonald's Corp. bought the property of its current restaurant in 1976 for $120,000, according to county property records.

First assistant manager Corey Mizzell said all of the current McDonald's employees will be transferred to the new location.

Reach Kristen Hankla at 937-5548 or khankla@postandcourier.com.