McDonald’s to build its biggest store ever, in London for 2012 Olympics

New York City -- McDonald’s Corp. plans to build the largest restaurant in its system as part of its role as official restaurant of the 2012 Olympic Games in London. The chain has been an Olympics sponsor since 1976.



Speaking in a global webcast on July 20, McDonald's UK CEO Jill McDonald said the planned restaurant will span 32,290 sq.-ft. over two levels, and will have a kitchen four times standard size to accommodate the crowds. The chain says it expects to serve 1.75 million meals during the games, which run from July 27 to Aug. 12, 2012.



The restaurant is being designed by French architect Philippe Avanzi, who worked on the 2009 modernization of McDonald’s units in Manhattan.



The super-sized restaurant is one of four temporary McDonald's that will be built in and near the Olympics park in east London. (Two will be open to the public, the others are in areas open only to the athletes and media.) All the units are being designed to be disassembled after the games, with their various components (including furniture and kitchen equipment) recycled into other McDonald’s locations.