The newly rebuilt McDonald’s at 4950 South Dakota Avenue NE opened on December 30, 2025. An official grand opening celebration will likely be held later this month.
The new restaurant features dual drive-thru lanes; indoor and outdoor pick-up windows for mobile ordering; a few parking spaces; and extensive planting beds. The rebuilt restaurant replaces what some called the first McDonald’s in the city. With the help of the DC Office of Planning, former Ward 5 Councilmember Harry Thomas, Jr., and the North Michigan Park Civic Association (under leadership of former president Grace Lewis who moved out of the city in 2023), McDonald’s utilized a chaotic Comp Plan process to upzone the property for the sole purpose of tearing down the old restaurant that did not have a drive-thru in order to build a new one with a drive-thru as a matter of right.
Pictures taken December 31, 2025.
Next Stop...Riggs Park 
One concern that was expressed throughout the rebuild process was traffic backing up on South Dakota Avenue while waiting in the drive-thru lanes. That concern is now a reality. Not only is traffic backing up, the sidewalk is also blocked for pedestrians.
What they may need to do, and I’ve seen this at other fast food places in the area with drive thrus, is to have cars enter the parking area, but circle the building first before being able to enter the drive thru lane (like waiting in line at an airport or a rollercoaster) and allow cars to exit via Delafield.