The McDonald’s on Elgin Street was an iconic backdrop for Cougar Field. Having first opened in 1991, it predates the field by four years. More than 20 years later, the McDonald’s has been torn down only to be renovated and is scheduled to open this fall | Kayla Stewart/The Daily Cougar
The McDonald’s that stood on the intersection of Elgin Street and Cullen Boulevard has been demolished. Only a pile of debris and the golden arches remain until it reopens in September.
“I was driving to class in the morning and decided to stop there, as usual, to grab my sausage, egg and cheese McGriddle,” said economics and political science junior Yatindra Chahar. “I noticed it was completely torn down. Now, I was still hungry and wondering what happened because that McDonald’s was a classic.”
According to Hattiesburg American, the 22-year-old building was one of the only old-school McDonald’s’ left standing, and its golden arches had served as a backdrop of the Cougar Baseball Field for many years.
“Although I didn’t eat there, the restaurant was symbolic to the University of Houston baseball field,” said petroleum engineering junior Adebiyi Sijuwade.
Aside from being a landmark on campus, it was a popular destination for many students looking for a quick snack yet, some students are glad to see it go.
“I would say, though, the less McDonald’s in the world, the better off we are,” Chahar said. “I will be healthier without it being there.”
While the McDonald’s will be gone for the summer, it will open its golden arches again this fall.
As Sijuwade said, it’s a “fast turn around for a fast-food restaurant.”
