The McDonald’s restaurant in Ballymena has reopened following a £1.1 million six-week refurbishment project.
The investment in the new-look restaurant has created 20 additional jobs, bringing the total number employed at McDonald’s in the town to 150.
Upgrades have included a dedicated courier waiting area, new kitchen design with a bigger order assembly area and a larger customer area with 75 seats.
With the rise in deliveries, the restaurant has a separate ‘McDelivery’ area, which will allow delivery drivers to access a dedicated courier entrance and service seating area.
The Ballymena restaurant is led by franchisee Paddy Cusack, who also operates the McDonald’s restaurants in Antrim, Larne and Magherafelt.
He said: “We are passionate about feeding and fostering the communities we serve, and we are looking forward to welcoming customers back to the new and improved Ballymena restaurant so they can experience the new changes first-hand.
“Our job is to ensure that every experience is a great one for customers, delivery partners and crew. These upgrades will help us to deliver a quicker, more seamless and more convenient experience for all.”
“As a local business owner, creating opportunities for people in the local area and sustaining jobs within the community is one of my top priorities.
“This investment ensures we can continue providing a modern, welcoming restaurant for our customers while supporting employment and skills development for our crew members, most of whom live locally.”
There are currently 35 McDonald’s restaurants in Northern Ireland, and the company supports around 6,600 jobs across the region when direct and indirect employment is included.
