News

McDonald's digs in to next chapter with Chicago groundbreaking

December 7, 2016

Construction on McDonald's Corporation Chicago corporate headquarters is officially underway in the West Loop of the city after a groundbreaking Wednesday at the site. The brand's new nine-story structure is expected to open in the spring of 2018, and will include the chain's corporate offices and Hamburger University.

"Today we are breaking ground to bring an iconic American brand back to Chicago — the most American of American cities,” said Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, according to  a news release about the event.

McDonald's headquarters were in the city until 1971, when it made the move to the suburb of Oakbrook. This brings HQ back into the heart of the Midwest city at the new location on West Randolph, where the 485,000-square-foot location will soon take shape. 
 
"We are laying the foundation for the next chapter at McDonald's," McDonald's President and CEO Steve Easterbrook said. "Our return to Chicago is an important step in our journey to build a better McDonald's that strives to get closer to our customers in everything we do. There is no better place to do that than here in Chicago's vibrant West Loop."