One of the final diners at the First Hill McDonald’s before it was torn down in 2017
Word spread on social media Friday morning of a new spark in one of the most hotly recurring rumors of modern day Capitol Hill — a McDonald’s is maybe just quite possibly coming to Broadway.
A tiny step in the development process was filed earlier this month for a “Mcdonalds” tenant buildout at 201 Broadway E, the long ago Broadway Theater building that has stood empty across from Capitol Hill Station since the 2024 exit of the Rite Aid pharmacy chain.
The 5,000-square-foot former pharmacy space has been marketed for lease along with another 2,200-square-feet in the building. “Contact Broker For Pricing,” the listing encourages.
The “building and land use pre-application” could be the first step in a project to build a new restaurant at the bustling corner just a block away from hometown favorite Dick’s Drive-in.
Or it could be a nothingburger.
Kitty-corner to Capitol Hill Station
CHS is checking with local ownership of Seattle-area outlets of the global burger chain to learn more.
The area has been without a nearby source of Big Macs since the First Hill McDonald’s served its final fries in 2017 to make way for new development. That corner eventually became home to another massive chain’s aspiration when an Amazon Go location opened there in 2019. The checkout-less store was closed as part of the company’s abrupt shutdown of Amazon grocery concepts.
Despite a reputation for alternative cultures and diverse communities, Capitol Hill has hosted its fair share of big chain fast food over the years.
Over the years, there have also been several McDonald’s rumors at various locations around Capitol Hill including flurries of McFlurry hope at 10th and Union and on Broadway in 2012.
Fourteen years later, the Capitol Hill McDonald’s rumors are heating up again.
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