McDonald's Breaks Ground At New West Loop Headquarters
CHICAGO (CBS) -- McDonald's is making a major move that broke ground on Tuesday.
McDonald's headquarters is moving 18 miles from Oak Brook to Randolph and Carpenter in the West Loop.
CBS 2's Suzanne Le Mignot takes a look at what that means for the thousands of employees.
A ceremonial shovel toss of dirk marks the groundbreaking of McDonald's headquarters in the West Loop. The food giant's corporate office will bow be back in Chicago, after more than four decades.
"It's just a really exciting day for us," said Steve Easterbrook, McDonald's CEO.
McDonald's CEO Steve Easterbrook said all 2,000 employees at their Oakbrook location, will now be working on the spot, once occupied by Harpo Studios, at Randolph and Carpenter.
"I do want to say to McDonald's and Steve particularly and everybody after 45 years, welcome home," said Mayor Rahm Emanuel.
McDonald's will occupy 485,000 square feet of the new, nine story building.
Easterbrook calls the West Loop, vibrant and trend driven.
"I can't quantify it, but I think the reality is, as you see other businesses around us, you'll see the amplifier affect that a global headquarters can have on an emerging and exciting area like this," he said.
The West Loop is home to food wholesalers and renowned restaurants.
"We're just very honored to have McDonald's in the West Loop," said Carla Agostinelli, West Loop Community Organization. "They're a company that excels in leadership and diversity and that really defines this city, that we live in."
The ground floor retail space, will have some kind of restaurant concept, that will contribute to the West Loop scene. Hamburger University will also be at headquarters.
As for the fate of McDonald's Oakbrook headquarters, that the company is leaving after 45 years, the CEO said they'll see what company may want to take over the space, once they move to the West Loop, in the Spring of 2018.
