Oct. 18, 2022

McDonald’s has opened its latest location in south Sioux Falls.

The restaurant on South Minnesota Avenue is just north of 85th Street and is the eighth McDonald’s in Sioux Falls.

“It’s been really good,” franchisee Jordan Hartshorn said. “We’re in a good spot as far as residential, with a lot of rooftops — it’s easy to get to us with tons of residents around the building with apartments and condos and single-family homes.”

There also are “plenty of curbside spots” and a double drive-thru, and the new location allows for delivery within a 5-mile radius, which opens up service to Harrisburg and south Sioux Falls, he said.

It’s designed for “the latest and greatest equipment,” he added. “There are all these new technology things, which are really cool and more efficient.”

His team has spent more than a week training on the new equipment and work flow, and hiring “has been really good,” Hartshorn said. “Every day, there’s probably three or four people applying, so that’s gone really well.”

Earlier this year, he announced all new employees would start with a wage of at least $15 per hour, with managers earning at least $18 per hour.

On Wednesday, the restaurant will hold a grand opening from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. with the first 1,000 customers receiving a scratch-off ticket that will earn free food. There also will be a prize wheel to win food and McDonald’s swag. The Tumble Bus will be there from 1 to 3 p.m., and there will be a coloring contest and radio remote broadcast with the chance to win additional prizes, including Minnesota Vikings tickets.

Permanent hours will be 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily, with breakfast ending at 10:30 a.m.

The new location also is opening in time to capture some of McDonald’s popular promotions, including its recent adult Happy Meal offering. The meals offer a Big Mac or 10-piece chicken McNugget along with a nostalgic toy.

Adult Happy Meals have been “a phenomenal promotion and really resonated with our customers,” Hartshorn said. “We sold out our first shipment in two days.”

The remainder of the month also will bring the return of McDonald’s iconic Halloween pails, or “Boo Buckets.” And while a date hasn’t been announced, it’s expected this fall also will bring back the limited-time menu item the McRib.

“It will be a very engaging rest of October for us with a lot of cool things coming up,” Hartshorn said.

As far as future locations, McDonald’s corporate headquarters typically takes the lead on real estate decisions before franchisees get involved.

However, “Sioux Falls is just blowing up,” Hartshorn said. “So I could only imagine down the road there would be something.”