BIZNOTE FOLLOWUPS: Westwood McDonald’s reopens; Dué Cucina West Seattle about to open

Two food followups:

WESTWOOD McDONALD’S REOPENS: Multiple readers, including Thomas – who sent the photo above – report that the Westwood Village McDonald’s is now open. The entrances were still coned when we went by around 9:30 am today, so the opening happened sometime after that. As noted here again Monday, the restaurant’s been closed almost six months for a “transformation.”

DUE CUCINA OPENS TOMORROW: Thanks for the texted tip that the new Italian restaurant in The Junction (4437 California SW) has announced tomorrow as its opening date, a week and a half after installing the exterior signage. We couldn’t find any info about what time, though, so we went over to look, and found one staff member who told us they’re expecting to open Wednesday around 11 am. This will be the fourth restaurant for the regional mini-chain, after Roosevelt, Capitol Hill, and Totem Lake. We first reported the West Seattle expansion plan six months ago.

Jim February 28, 2023 (8:16 pm)

Glad to see McDonald’s got a facelift! That building really needed it it was pretty beat up and ratty looking

Lindsey March 1, 2023 (11:54 am)

The improvement in the flow of the drive-through is a great improvement.

ImLuvinIt February 28, 2023 (9:45 pm)

Beautiful pic of the McDonald’s. Kudos to the photographer! (I took the pic.)

WSB February 28, 2023 (9:50 pm)

Oh sorry, Thomas didn’t mention a separate photo credit. Thanks!
- ImLuvinItStill March 1, 2023 (8:21 am)
  
  Oh no, you did everything right. This is Thomas. I was just being stupid and wanted to play up my photo skillz.

Anxious Driver February 28, 2023 (10:23 pm)

I’ve been a manual laborer throughout my entire life. Having never worked in fast food, I’ve never known what goes on when a restaurant goes under construction. What happens to the employees? Are they fired? Are they still paid (albeit a lesser amount)?

KT March 1, 2023 (4:55 am)

It depends on the franchise owner. Some keep paying their staff as if they work working. With the tight job market for restaurant workers, I would suspect the franchise owner here did that for his longtime and key employees so they would be there when the reopening happenened.
aa March 1, 2023 (6:07 am)

I would imagine they are given the opportunity to work at other locations. Thats what happened when PCC closed in WS. If no other locations need help then they could apply for unemployment as they would probably be considered laid off. I doubt they are still paid if not working unless its a small business with a generous owner for a short period of time. I believe that was the case for some places during the height of the pandemic, restaurants that fluctuated between open and closed..