Dedicated delivery provider area, biggest play space in SA features of new McDonalds

McDonald’s newest outlet in Adelaide’s west boasts the franchise’s biggest play area in SA a dedicated area for food delivery drivers – but is also bringing more than 100 jobs.

Images of the new McDonalds at West Richmond. Picture: Supplied

A new McDonald’s restaurant with the biggest play area in SA and a dedicated delivery courier room is opening at West Richmond.

The new restaurant will feature a McCafé, a dual lane drive-through and solar panels on the roof to help partly power the restaurant.

Located on Marion Road, the doors to the new store opened on Friday with the restaurant to provide jobs for more than 100 people.

Licensee of the West Richmond restaurant Peter Russo started his career with McDonalds as a teenager.

Images of the new McDonalds at West Richmond. Picture: Supplied

“I’m a western suburbs boy, so I started working at McDonalds at West Lakes when I was 15, and I never left,” he said.

Mr Russo started his career at the company at the time when the West Lakes McDonalds was one of the most popular in SA – due to the well-known aeroplane at the front of the restaurant that customers could eat in.

As well as the West Richmond restaurant, he is also the franchisee of McDonalds at Melrose Park, along with the Hindley Street and the Myer Centre food court stores in Adelaide.

Mr Russo said the new West Richmond restaurant had unique features like a dedicated delivery partner courier room.

“Delivery has been one of the key growth areas for McDonalds in the last 12 months,” he said.

“Delivery was going OK, and then COVID hit, and so many more people wanted their food delivered.

“But it can clutter up the service area, having drivers come in for deliveries, at the same time as customers are getting their food.”

Images of the new McDonalds at West Richmond. Picture: Supplied

While play areas are off-limits at the moment, due to COVID restrictions, when they do open up, the McDonalds at West Richmond has the largest play area of any McDonalds in SA and it is fully enclosed and airconditioned.

The recent 100 hires at the West Richmond store are part of McDonald’s plans to recruit more than 820 South Australians and 17,400 Australians nationwide before the year is out.

Mr Russo said with so many schools in the West Richmond area, there were great employment opportunities for youths being created through the new restaurant.

“Providing young people with a great first job that also develops skills that enhance their employability, is something we believe is in the long-term interests of the Australian economy,” he said.