It’s months away from happening... but it’s helping Watseka McDonald’s owner Wayne Jarosh breathe a little easier these days.

Watseka’s ‘golden arches’ are going to have a new location. The McDonald’s franchise will set up shop at the former site where Burger King had been located.

Jarosh tells WGFA/WIBK News he wanted to stay on the west side of Watseka, but he had to get out of the flood zone – that’s ruined his business too many times.

“We know we had to move, but I knew it was in our best interest to stay on this side of town,” Jarosh said. “The traffic pattern tells us, this is best for the business.”
Formal paper work is yet to be signed. But the future store will build where Burger King once did business on W. Walnut Street, not far from the now-closed McDonald’s.

A new McDonald’s – top technology and other features – will most likely occupy two available lots. The former Flower Shak, next door to the Burger King lot, is in the mix.

The McDonald’s building has been shuttered since February 20 when flood waters again surrounded the building. Even talking about the devastating floods forces Jarosh to take a deep breath.

Flooding over the years has been too much to absorb. The first-kicker was 2008. The business operation was ruined, forcing Jarosh to replace the entire interior. All new seating and flood-combative doors were installed.

But it happened again, and again.

Now, Jarosh says, we’ll have a new restaurant ready – hopefully sooner than later. No firm timeline is set.

Jarosh’s more-local McDonald’s are in Gilman and Kentland, IN with other stores in Rantoul and Urbana... in addition to the Watseka location.

94.1 WGFA