McDonald’s wants to build Canada’s first drive-thru only site in Winnipeg

McDonald’s wants to try something new in Winnipeg – create Canada’s first drive-thru only restaurant.

McDonald’s wants to bring a prototype drive-thru only restaurant to Winnipeg — a first for Canada.

The fast-food giant has brought forward a plan to build the restaurant in the corner of the Superstore parking lot, which is at the corner of Kenaston Boulevard and Grant Avenue.

“I wanted to highlight the fact that this is the first prototype of on-the-go restaurants in Canada,” Amit Kapoor, a local franchise operator, said during a presentation to Winnipeg’s city centre community committee on Tuesday.

Kapoor said there are only two other locations like this in the entire world — both in the U.S. (Texas and California).

“Nobody can actually walk in; this is exclusively a drive-thru only restaurant,” he said, noting several locations across Canada were being considered.

“If this prototype works, if it becomes successful, it will put Winnipeg on the road map.”

To make it happen, McDonald’s is looking for a zoning amendment to allow a drive-thru restaurant in the busy parking lot. Current zoning restricts uses of the land to a supermarket and gas bar.

City staff said Superstore has agreed to the development.

Lilit Houlder, an urban planner with Arcadis, said the planned expansion of Kenaston Boulevard may require some changes to the building’s design.

“Our team is looking at the preliminary design of the roadway and revisiting the site design,” she said, adding the proposed building may need to shift back by about three metres.

Committee member Coun. Sherri Rollins questioned if this new ‘prototype’ McDonald’s could lead to the closure of existing branches in the city. Kapoor said it won’t, adding this site would fill an empty space between what he described as ‘traditional’ McDonald’s restaurants.

He said this ‘prototype’ McDonald’s would bring about 60 jobs to the area — though he noted traditional McDonald’s restaurants usually require about 80 positions.

The plan has been sent to the executive policy committee and will ultimately require council approval.