The New York State Thruway Authority announced a temporary change with regard to dining options at service areas along the interstate.
However, the change will have permanent impacts.
Effective January 1st, 2023 11 service areas along the Thruway will no longer have McDonald’s restaurants.
There are currently nine remaining in operation. All of those will shut down when the clock strikes 2023.
This is part of the the Thruway Authority’s effort to revitalize and renovate rest areas. However, some rest areas won’t have restaurants now until the renovations are complete.
This will take some time.
In lieu of McDonald’s at rest areas where that is the only dining option currently – the Thruway Authority says ‘temporary dining options’ will be made possible. This includes Applegreen Convenience stores offering an assortment of hot food items, and grab-and-go sandwiches, wraps, salad, coffee, snacks, drinks, and more.
These convenience stores will also be open 24-hours a day.
McDonald’s is the only major fast food chain to be ending operation along the Thruway when 2023 arrives. Others like Sbarro, Subway, and Burger King – even if they’re not part of the renovation plans at individual rest stops – will remain open.
No two consecutive rest areas will be closed and the renovations are not coming at taxpayer expense. Instead, the new rest areas, which are open in places like Junius, Seneca County, are made possible through a partnership with Empire State Thruway Partners.
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