Tears of a Clown: Ronald McDonald Still at Closed Endwell Eatery

More than a week after the Endwell McDonald's restaurant suddenly shut down its grills, the company's cartoon mascot remains alone inside, looking over a once-busy Playland.

There's been no word from McDonald's Corporation on the decision to close the operation on East Main Street, which was located directly across from a Burger King restaurant.

The McDonald's, which featured a kids' play area, opened in 1997. The fast-food company acquired the property from the town of Union for $80,000.

The restaurant was built where the Hooper School building had stood for 78 years. After the school was closed by the Maine-Endwell School District, the site was used for several years by the town of Union. For a time, it was home to a state police substation and to studios used by WSKG public television.

People who live and work in the area expressed surprise that the McDonald's unit closed without advance notice on January 15. But some acknowledged the place didn't appear to be as busy as the chain's other area locations.

An employee at the nearby Burger King said that restaurant will remain open. She indicated business had increased since the McDonald's closure.

Workers were seen inside the idle eatery on Wednesday removing some of the items that remained.

A McDonald's representative was unable to say what is planned for the Endwell property.

McDonald's shut down a poorly-performing location on West State Street in Binghamton in September 2018.

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Contact WNBF News reporter Bob Joseph: bob@wnbf.com or (607) 545-2250. For breaking news and updates on developing stories, follow @BinghamtonNow on Twitter.