Times Observer photo by Josh Cotton Warren’s McDonalds has been closed and demolition of the existing building is set to commence Thursday. Officials say the goal is to have the restaurant back open - with a dual drive through lane — in 100 days.

Demolition of the McDonalds in downtown Warren is slated to kick off on Thursday.

The restaurant is closed and will be for some time as work to construct the new building for the restaurant will begin shortly after the demolition, which is expected to take about a week.

City of Warren Department of Public Works Director Mike Holtz said the restaurant did not close until all of the materials were in hand to construct its replacement.

He said the developer’s goal is to have the restaurant open in 100 days “start to finish.”

The transformation of the lot at 75 Market St. was before the city’s Zoning Hearing Board for a couple variances earlier this year.

The board heard from Michael Takacs with Bohler Engineering on behalf of McDonalds.

“What the applicant is proposing to do (is) demolish the existing McDonalds” and rebuild “a brand new McDonalds basically in the same location but more current, up to date, up to their current standards,” he explained.

The proposal approved would create a dual drive through at the Warren McDonalds at the expense of 14 parking spaces.

“More people are actually going through the drive through” than the restaurant, Takacs said. “From what they are seeing and what they believe, most of the retailers or food vendors do not see it reverting back.”