New McDonald's in Lakewood: A Timeline

It’s been nearly two years since the Detroit Theatre closed its doors after nearly 90 years in business. The new fast-food restaurant that replaced the theater is now open.

It’s been almost two years since the Detroit Theatre closed its doors after nearly 90 years in business. Just months after that, McDonald’s announced plans to plant the Golden Arches in its place.  Here’s the timeline since January 2011, when the Detroit Theatre closed its curtain for the last time. Jan. 30, 2011: The last movie, "True Grit," was shown at the Detroit Theatre. April: McDonald’s begins discussions with the city about closing the Sloane Avenue location, and re-opening somewhere else in the city. June 15: More than 150 residents attend a community meeting to discuss the proposal. July 14: McDonald's representatives present initial plans to city officials. July 29: Inspired by the McDonald’s proposal, city begins plans to …

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Golden Arches Go Up, But McDonald’s Opening Delayed

The opening of the new McDonald’s on Detroit Avenue, expected this week, is postponed.

The property that once featured classic films on the big screen, will now offer Big Macs and Happy Meals.  However, the opening of the new McDonald’s on Detroit Avenue — which was expected this week — has been postponed.  Mike Lewis, the area real estate manager for McDonald’s, said the project has had some “slight delays.”  While the doors were expected to open today, the asphalt still needs poured and the striping on it still needs to get done — along with some other loose ends. “We’re trying to get it open as soon as we can,” Lewis said. “I know we’ll meet the original Oct. 15 deadline.” The Sloane Avenue location closed its doors on Sept. 15, and the Nature’s Bin natural foods store is expanding into the space. The Detroit Theatre was …

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3:03 pm on Thursday, November 8, 2012

I love watching the fast pace construction for new Get-Go - everyday they are making visible progress. I may be the only person that is looking forward to it being open.....out with the old empty blithe...in with the new. Yay for renewal.   more ›

McDonald’s Closes Its Doors on Sloane Avenue

But the new McDonald’s construction is ahead of schedule, slated to open on Oct. 3.

The McDonald’s on Sloane Avenue has closed it doors. And the new restaurant on Detroit Avenue — on the land of the former Detroit Theatre — is ahead of schedule, just weeks away from its grand opening. Mike Lewis, the construction project manager for McDonald’s, recently told Lakewood Patch that he hoped to open the fast-food restaurant by Halloween. But it looks like the project will finish almost a month ahead of schedule. Signs posted around the abandoned building on Sloane Avenue note that the new McDonald’s will open at 11 a.m. Oct. 3. That property will be the future home of an expanded Nature's Bin. Dozens of workers buzzed around the construction site this week, pouring and smoothing out the new concrete around the property. …

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Gas Leak Shuts Down McDonald's Construction Site

Workers strike gas line as they were preparing to lay the foundation for the new fast-food restaurant at the corner of Detroit and Woodward avenues.

As workers started construction of the new McDonald’s, workers accidentally struck a gas line on Monday afternoon.  Detroit Avenue was reduced to one lane of traffic and Woodward Avenue was closed at the intersection as workers from Dominion attempted to repair the damaged line at around 2 p.m. Firefighters on the scene said that no one was injured.  Police were also at the site helping direct traffic. Construction of the new McDonald’s — which would move the Sloane Avenue location — is expected to resume when the gas leak is fixed. Officials have said they hope the new McDonald's, on the site of the former Detroit Theatre, will be finished by Halloween.

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SLIDESHOW: The Detroit Theatre in Ruins

Construction of a new McDonald's expected to begin soon.

Detroit Theatre: Stage Right, Nothing Left

The 88-year-old theatre is reduced to a large pile of rubble, to make way for the Golden Arches of McDonald's.

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VIDEO: Demolition of the Detroit Theatre Wraps Up

Nothing expected to remain of the building by this afternoon.

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Rob Uton

5:32 pm on Friday, May 25, 2012

A water meter is hooked up at the hydrant, and the city bills the demolition contractor (who in turn bills the owner of the property) for the amount of water used. At least that's how it's done in a typical demolition.   more ›

Curtains Closing Quickly on the Detroit Theatre

Another layer of the Detroit Theatre has been removed; the building is more than halfway demolished — the site is the future home of McDonald's.

VIDEO: Demolition Continues at the Detroit Theatre

The seats got plucked from the 88-year-old theater on Wednesday, as the process to raze the structure continued.

The seats were removed and demoltion continued at the site of the former Detroit Theatre on Wednesday. On Monday, a portion of the rear of the building was razed but the process was slowed by the removal of utility lines. The theater will be demolished to make way for a new McDonald's at the site. For complete coverage, visit our topic page.

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Community Remembers, Says Goodbye to the Detroit Theatre

Share your memories with us in the comments!

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