PHILADELPHIA, Miss. (Queen City Newsfeed) — More than seven months after a fire destroyed the Philadelphia McDonald’s on the evening of the Philadelphia Christmas Parade, the rebuilding process has reached a major milestone.
Demolition of the fire-damaged restaurant began Monday, July 27, marking the first visible step toward construction of a brand-new McDonald’s.
Earlier this month, on July 14, owner Stephanie Murray Coker shared an update on the restaurant’s Facebook page, announcing a preliminary timeline for the long-awaited rebuild.
“After months of waiting, planning, and working behind the scenes, we finally have a preliminary timeline for the rebuild for our Philadelphia location that was destroyed by a fire in December!” Coker wrote.
She emphasized that the dates are strictly preliminary and could change due to weather, construction delays, or other unforeseen circumstances. Coker also pledged to keep the community informed throughout the project.
According to the timeline, demolition was scheduled to begin on July 27, with construction expected to start on August 3. The current preliminary target for reopening the restaurant is November 16, 2026.
The new Philadelphia McDonald’s will replace the restaurant that was destroyed by fire on December 8, 2025. Coker previously announced that the replacement will be a larger, state-of-the-art restaurant, with plans expected to include a new PlayPlace.
The project follows months of planning after the devastating fire forced the restaurant to close. Community members have continued to express their support throughout the rebuilding process, and Monday’s demolition marks a significant step toward bringing the restaurant back to Philadelphia.
Queen City Newsfeed will continue to provide updates as construction progresses and additional information becomes available.