Abandoned McDonald's - Charleston, WV

Abandoned McDonald's - Charleston, WV. Closed recently. This was a classic style location with the arches over each side of the front of the building. Unfortunately, there are no current plans with the building. Nothing from McDonald's as to whether or not they plan to renovate or redevelop the building. For now it just sits vacant.
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#abandoned #mcdonalds #wallieb26

[@gtrguy562]

My wife and I baught our first Christmas tree from the old Hills Department store that was in that plaza 34 years ago. And Im happy to report that I still have my wife, and the Christmas tree.😊

[@frothe42]

I love this McDonald's instead of the current ugly box they are today. This is how they should look!

[@LARRYMICHAUDWJMC]

There was also an Ames department store there as well. I ate at this McDonald's in the late 90s when I was a little kid. That's how I remember the Ames department store

[@DebbraHanna]

I live here in Charleston. This McDonald's was the best to go to in the 80's and 90's. But in the 2000's its food, staff, and cleanliness started dropping off, and went from bad to worse throughout 2000 - 2023. In early 2023, they tried to be better at cleaning, staffing, preparing and getting the orders filled correctly. But that was too little too late type of deal. 😢 So was so upset that corporate didn't send someone down to clean up their Everything! Really sad for the loss. North Charleston, doesn't have enough places to take our children to. Again, truly sad. 😢

[@jerrysanders9101]

Same happened to the two McDonald’s near me in San Diego.. were great in the 90s early 2ks.. apparently it’s just the way things are in USA now.. I mean it’s insane how crappy my local mcds got.. how they can keep the franchise name is beyond me

[@michaelsheppard6714]

I don’t understand why they have an ice cream machine that they can’t even fix.

[@BackroomsSlayer]

I lived up on the hill in vandalia terrace as a kid back in 1992-1995ish. I know the big lots there has been there since before I was born in the 80s which is where I got my super nintendo for chrismas in 94, that mcdonalds was where my school friends and I ate around 25 years ago, sometimes my mom and I would get lunch here too in the summer before heading to the pool on the hillside or the nearby community pool. The pool on the hillside by the rec center is now a community garden just below vandalia terrace. I used to love looking down from the hillside and seeing the lights down below at night riding my bike with my friends as a kid....it really does bring almost flashback like memories.

[@aaronprince8690]

I only live about an hour away from this. I never knew a nostalgia McDonalds like this was there, or I would have visited. Fast food restaurants from the 80’s and 90’s were so much better than today’s. Had so much character.

[@missrita1826]

Oh my goodness! This brings back memories for me I used to eat there alot. I used to work at Hill's Department Store, best place I ever worked at. Kmart just down from McDonalds. Big Bear beside Hills. Just great memorys. North Charleston on Patrick Street.

[@justinehyre2975]

Where in Charleston was this?? Patrick Street?? Kanawha City?? Grew up in Charleston and not sure where this is.

[@missrita1826]

@@justinehyre2975 l failed to mention the area. It was Patrick Street. Thank you.

[@mirandajarvis3924]

Bad Area used to be a wonderful shopping area in the 90's and yes that was a Hills depth store ❤

[@BackroomsSlayer]

I went to that hills as a kid living up on the hillside in vandalia terrace. I went to weberwood elementary then belville elementary in the 3rd grade before st albans high absorbed it into their gym.

[@michaelsheppard6714]

I think McDonald’s should go back to the retro look.

[@toddprater14]

Yes!!! At least the late70’s look… all fast food building look the same rectangular buildings, boring …

[@susancollins5821]

Ahhhh. Reminds me of the McDonald's from my childhood in the 60's. Still had the arches!

[@Optopolis]

The interior of that is the most aesthetically pleasing mcd I've seen in modern day.

[@hurlhager7798]

I ate there many times. Like others have said there was Kmarts next door, Hills department store and a Big Bear grocery store. What hasn't been mentioned was there is 3 different automobile dealerships located there. Ford, Toyota and Oldsmobile at the time I ate at that retro styled Mickey D's. It was beautiful. What you don't know is that they had all kinds of 50's pictures hung on the walls.

[@amyschoolcraft82]

You are absolutely correct, there is still 2 or 3 car lots and there also used to be a Lowe’s back in where the car lots are. I used to love this McDonalds, and this used to be a busy area.

[@jerrysanders9101]

@@amyschoolcraft82it’s just insane how garbage everything is turning into in the United States now.. and then they just allowed in 10 million 3rd worlders who are illiterate in their own languages, no skills, no money, and all those mouths to feed.. you think that will help our crippled nation? 😩

[@BDBD16]

Whats an Oldsmobile?

[@davidfrench5407]

Assuming that's Patrick Street Plaza

[@hurlhager7798]

@@davidfrench5407 Yes

[@Carlosscdcbrc]

In Hidalgo,Texas about 2 miles before you cross the international bridge into Reynosa,Mexico they closed a McDonald’s about 6 years ago. I don’t know why they closed because they were always busy.

[@nicolemacpherson3908]

It looks good! It looks like it could open back up tomorrow morning!

[@alanlough638]

An awesome video, Wallie! Thanks for the photos of the McDonald's when they were open. I really like old school aesthetics of any fast food restaurants, especially McDonald's. Come to think of it, I had been down in Charleston, WV in the 1980s and I ate at that McDonald's. Take care, Alan.

[@toonguy06]

one of the original McDonald's is still open in Downey California. It still has the golden arches like this one did

[@piercehawke8021]

And an emergency 'stop demolition' order after said McDonald's was half demolished.

[@adamrichards3174]

The one in Downey is supposed to have been the 3rd ever McDonald's and is the only one left of the original pre-Ray Krok franchise.

[@jaimienichols5649]

Awesome Wallie

[@prb6137]

And there was a K-Mart on the other side! Patrick Street…. Been there numerous times!

[@lisafreeman4222]

That place looks awesome I love that wall paper and the glass bricks

[@redmonika10]

In the 70s when this McDonalds opened, it was THE McDonalds to go to. Kmart was always hopping, the west end of Charleston was where my family did their shopping. In the 80s Hills opened along with Big Bear, another two stores we always shopped at. The decline of the area happened in the 90s. Today sadly there is not much down there, all of Charleston is a mess.

[@lisaknell1809]

I used to visit the old KMART beside this McDonalds with my friend and her Mom back in the 70s when I was a kid. We always came here after shopping.

[@kimiastewart6293]

I love the interior of the McDonald's! The wallpaper is cool, the seats, the colors thank you for sharing and Happy New Year, Wallie 😊

[@bridgetraveler7700]

The McDonald's in West Virginia gives me vibes of the abandoned McDonald's in Middlesex New Jersey with the same type of red floor tiles.

[@WVgrl59]

Kmart was right next door. I can remember when we came back from vacation in 1968 (?) and they were putting the "K" up on the Kmart sign. Later came the McDonald's, but by then, we had moved to Cross Lanes in 1970.

[@WesleyWes304]

The Hills was also an Ames

[@matthewburcham6875]

That was a Hills and the Big Lots was a Big Bear Grocery store.

[@carlavision6143]

WallieB26 my Mom was born in Charleston WV. Really enjoyed your awesome abandoned McDonald's video! Looks so cool inside. YOU ROCK!!!!!

[@fanofbigmedia]

The sign was likely left behind due to zone permitting issues. Either the local zoning board denied their request to remove it (usually because a form wasn't filled out properly or something silly) or it was deemed too costly to bother. Zoning boards are an odd bunch.

[@littlerocky76]

Yea it closed due to sales not to rebuilding if they was rebuilding it's usually done in 3 months worked at old one in S.A before they tore it down was rebuilt and opened in 90 days ...that was in 90s but yea . kinda sad cause it's nice retro!

[@lostsheep2640]

Wow that was really cool, thanks for showing us this. Keep up the awesome work.

[@slackingpacking]

Such a classic building. Sucks to see them like this. Everything is shoe box shape now with no character.

[@DavidSquires-iy4uv]

AND, I ALSO AGREE WITH YOUR COMMENT ABOUT THE STYLE OF FAST FOOD RESTAURANT BUILDINGS BUILT LIKE SHOEBOXES. 4:34

[@keithkalif2778]

I love this McDonald

[@avgjoeavglife]

Yeah, much better than the regular shoeboxes.

[@jet34thehawk]

Cool video man

[@xJC2x]

Love the retro look of rhe building but that modern paint color & removing the arches just strips the building of any character & personality.

[@songrose8526]

Love seeing you explore places in West Virginia! One place I recommend is an abandoned Fazolis in Cross Lanes, WV. It has been closed for about 10 years.

[@danestegman155]

Good Video! Interesting place! I like the outside and inside of this McDonald's! Looks like it could open up again! I miss the Hills stores!

[@Benthetrainkid]

This should be turned to a retro-style diner

[@TennesseeTabFive]

Crap location right behind a ford dealership. It just closed last year

[@vickiewalker7801]

It's a terrible location now 😢

[@stacymcfarland7720]

Awesome Vaporwave music at the end of your video Wallie, nice touch. 🔥🔥🔥🔥🩷

[@WallieB26]

Glad you enjoyed that! I had to!

[@kennethbrown3745]

I live here in Charleston, WV and this McDonald's I always thought was some training restaurant for new employees. They were always slow and they probably messed up your order at least 90% of the time. Given what I know about the Westside of Charleston, there was probably some shady activity going on as well (drugs). Shortly before they closed, however, they appeared to have hired some really good employees. They were very efficient, courteous, polite and professional.

[@CyberMasterMark]

UHAUL used to be around the ballpark nearby in a much smaller building that was also nearby the new location!!

[@KamenRiderGumo]

Man....I live in St. Albans, WV, and ate at that McDonald's a lot. Between Thanksgiving and Christmas, my grandparents would be out there doing their Christmas shopping (mostly at the also-now-abandoned K-Mart and the Hills you mentioned). Grandpa would drop Grandma off at whatever store she wanted to go to, then he'd take me to Mickey D's for cheeseburgers and he'd tell me all kinds of stories from when he was growing up in the mining towns, his time in the Army, career as a long-haul trucker......lot of memories in that shopping area.

[@94_Suburban]

i remember me and my buddy coming across that mcdonalds around 2022, we were hungry and saw a mcdonalds sign, but no mcdonalds, so i drove down after reading "turn right" on the sign and saw the place. I remember getting a picture of the place and I still have that picture

[@christopherscott934]

We used to have a Hills here in Bluefield, WV as well. Spent a lot of time as a kid on a Saturday there in the games section lol.

[@jaythaxton5175]

We shopped down there weekly back in the 80s,90s. Kmart,Lowe's,hills,Ames,big bear,plaza pets,Charleston department store. It's really sad just how terrible that area is now. That McDonald's used to have an outside play place.

[@davidfrench5407]

Is that Patrick Street plaza? Loved the Big Bear

[@sarahburgess162]

I live in Charleston WV. And I remember Kmart, Hills and Big Bear Grocery store. But I miss Kmart & Hills so much, & I wish they would bring Kmart back, or something like it. And the Big Bear Grocery store was where Big Lots is now.

[@brantvoight68]

Amazing video as always, Wallie!

[@CyberMasterMark]

I used to go to this exact location because I lived in the area at the time!!

[@bigbro1010101]

Grew up going to that McDonalds and Kmart as a kid, very sad that not one but both are gone. Was always my favorite McDonalds because of the retro design

[@gatlindowney7247]

No way you came to Charleston! Hope to see you come closer to my neck of the woods in pike county eventually. Lots of abandoned things here

[@McD-ck]

I work at summersville mcdonalds and I used to go to this mcdonalds everytime I went to Charleston I love this old school design.

[@casperkellygaming4190]

Love the color of the booths and chairs. And the inside looked good to. It all went together and just worked while not looking blah. All though those one pieces in there kind of were BK colored...lol. Hopefully what ever moves in (if anything does) keeps it like that cause I agree with other commenters that it would make a great old school diner.

[@MrIceman22]

Awesome video Wallie keep it up buddy :D

[@cris-br7xj]

Looking at the building, on your left was a Kmart. Hills was closer to the river.

[@mountdeaneer]

Hills is at least partly occupied by a medical lab company. Big Lots used to be an Ohio-based grocery store called Big Bear. As others have said, this McDonald's had been in a long decline in food, cleanliness, service, etc. but seemed to have started righting the ship just before the closure was announced.

[@703am]

old school for sure . love it

[@BL-no7jp]

This McDonalds is nicer than our local ones. It’s hard to believe this one is closed.

[@jerrysanders9101]

There was a time not too long ago when you just knew a McDonald’s would NEVER fail.. there’s too much research done before allowing franchise to go in. Absolute insanity. Just a microcosm of the entire USA .

[@wwfattitude2011]

There’s a McDonald’s in Middleton, WI very similar to this one that’s still open. It was a McDonald’s Classic until they renovated it within the last 3 years.

[@terriwoodard7399]

I was reading on why this retro Mcdonald's closed. They said the service and location were bad?? Also one long time customer said it has a BASEMENT and was in use back in the day for dining...

[@mikesharp8653]

Wallie, you should come back to Berea Depot. We live in Strongsville, Oh and are close to it. We headed there for lunch and the place is permanently closed. No reason given. Sad we all loved that place and I know you guys did too.

[@TimLegg-yy9wr]

Wallie i wish i could of meet you i live one a second awsy from that old mcdonald's there was a old school mcdonald's there before that one that had a fun playground in front of the old one thats some history for u wallie that

[@OfficialTOXICO]

OK Wally I have a huge suggestion. There is a huge abandon strip mall in West Ashley. including in abandon CVS pharmacy in a band at Ryan's family buffet in a band at Jersey Mike's in a band in Ruby nails in Bandon hair topic in the Bandon boat store used to be Food lion The whole thing is about to be demolished in a couple of months. I already requested the man to do this, but he hasn't responded in West Ashley, South Carolina, near the new Turbo Cone near a Circle K. And near a Bigsby's coffee.

[@katieunicorn23]

Totally Awesome!!!

[@tuckerhuff692]

Love your videos

[@toddjohnson1899]

I read you like rail fanning. Come to the Beckley W.V area n visit Prince W.V. there an Amtrack station there n it's absolutely in the boonies on the csx line.

[@WallieB26]

That's on my bucket list! Thurmond, especially!

[@andrewbritton7923]

The Eberts from Harrison county closed this one due to declining sales. Also Wallie the Uhaul was an old Kmart it was abandoned when I was there back on 2019 to 2020. Part of the hills os a big lots

[@Wvblueeyes87]

That use to be a Hill’s and then an Ames. And beside it use to be a Big Bear. I grew up in Charleston.

[@staciponder710]

I live in Charleston and that McDonald’s was one of my favorites because it was close to my house and back in the 90s I was always going to that Hills department store and the Big Bear grocery store. One thing about this McDonald’s as others have commented, you did have to wait forever for your order and the milkshake and frappé machine hardly ever worked but it was a beautiful restaurant with the retro look. It was my “in the area” go to McDonald’s I was shocked when it closed! So sad!

[@davidpayneii289]

I live RIGHT across the river from this. Heck, I bought my first car in the parking lot behind it. It was always a slow McDonald’s, you were always there for 20-30 minutes trying to get food. The food was always oddly fresh, though. The employees just weren’t able to carry this sinking ship.

[@mattmaverick703]

This was clearly an original 60s mcdonalds. The building was added to to make it bigger and to add a drive thru but bet it once had the huge arch parking lot sign and the red and white tiles on sides of the buikding when it was in its original form.

[@adamrichards3174]

This one (I'm almost certain) was built in the early to mid 90s, I think it replaced a 70s mansard roof McD's.

[@rps57x]

I think the reason they leave the signs up at the road is so they can be "grandfathered" in since most places have new sign restrictions.

[@howellsretailexplorationra8774]

You Should Eat At One In Burlington Nc They have a similar one In Burlington NC But It’s Repainted It’s On Huffman Mill Rd

[@spedzu]

The last time I was there was probably 4-5 years ago. I ordered an ice cream sundae. The cashier didn’t know the ice cream machine wasn’t working. Hopefully someone will purchase and convert it into a diner style restaurant. Patrick Plaza was once a booming place! That Kmart was converted in the past year or two. I think it was the oldest Kmart in WV.

[@robdixon7732]

There is also an abandoned Hardee's in nearby Barboursville and a Shoneys in Huntington.

[@slackingpacking]

That Shoney’s is becoming a museum which is interesting.

[@Urban_nation.]

I feel like wallie should film the Lincoln park Michigan sears and the big boy restaurant next to the sears in Lincoln park Michigan. They’re both abandoned…!!

[@bccphotec]

It looks like a giant smiley robot face from the front !

[@Red-pl5yt]

I used to work for Hills way back in the 1993 for year's everybody loved Hills department store, I never understood why they closed .

[@TitoJohnson-l1k]

I actually grew up eating at that McDonald's in the80s I would walk there every day..beside it was Kmart and the hills building was a grocery store long ago

[@TheRealLucifer-Morningstar]

That's really awesome 😮

[@MitchellPartycenter2001]

They Still Have Old McDonald's Locations In Lanham, Arundel Mills, Fredericksburg & Ocean City

[@CyberMasterMark]

I definitely went to the KMART next door with my family way back in the early 2000s as well!! But I will tell you this: Amazon should have claimed the old KMART location with either an Amazon Go Store or a Whole Foods Store!! But I heard it was already in the works way before anybody even knew that UHAUL was going to take the location by storm before anybody else could claim it!!

[@clarky417]

the franchise owners may have been from Germany i seen the colors inside red yellow and black.

[@TheRealLucifer-Morningstar]

Wallie where's the Michigan one i might want to visit at some point

[@joetaylorchristmastree2866]

Happy new year 🎊🎉🎈🎊🎉🎈

[@exploring_unleashed]

The “no trespassing” signs mean nothing really, just an attempt at intimidation. I’ve always ignored them, although I’ve never been able to go in a building. Great video. 👍

[@OfficialTOXICO]

As a kid who urban explorers I can say when I look at trespassing signs, I just don't care

[@exploring_unleashed]

@@OfficialTOXICO Same here really.

[@slackingpacking]

@@OfficialTOXICO Yeah I’m not bothered by these signs,I used to be but not anymore.

[@neohistoryfan1014]

I don't think many people seem to enforce no trespassing policies these days.

[@slackingpacking]

@@neohistoryfan1014 except for people at C3. Don’t get me started on that lol.

[@roadgeek1961]

Sort of looks like my local McDonald's in Seminole Florida at Park and Starkey. Some in the area been renovated in the modern box design.

[@succuvamp_anna]

I live in the area, that area pretty much died when Hills and then later Ames went out, then Kmart went out. Big Lots used to be a Big Bear, where Dolor General is now a Burger King. If I remember correctly, the end of the building that Kmart was, that's now uhaul, was a bakery, we never went, it was too expensive. That vape shops use to be a BB&T, you can obviously tell where Wendy's used to be. Across Patric Street where the Rallies is, beside them use to be a bowling alley. It used to be "the place to go" if you didn't want to go to the mall in the 90s.

[@stars660]

This place is gourgeous! What a shame.

[@seanrodgers00]

I live 2 miles from here.. towards the end it wasworst run restaurant, I've ever been to. It had a playplace when i was a kid and remodeled to look like this in the late 2000s. That area of town is suffering big time

[@marshmallows5641]

Aw what shame it closed with the vintage design and Speedee mascot I hate the "shoebox" McDonald's so much

[@reneastle8447]

The good news is the Retro Decade Revival Project is gonna bring back the vintage design and the Speedy mascot.

[@keithatkins9783]

My niece is in the army she's based in fort Campbell Kentucky and she lives in Clarksville Tennessee about an hour away from Nashville Tennessee and also Nashville Tennessee is one of the areas where wawa is expanding to in the next few years

[@clevelandarearailfan]

There’s also an abandoned McDonald’s up in Wickliffe, Ohio (had a play place in the front)

[@abstracttom.cleanelephanto5659]

He’s very dedicated to filming abandoned buildings because he’s filming in the snow! ❤

[@McD-ck]

There is an abandoned Walgreens beside my restaurant in summersville

[@vickiewalker7801]

That McDonalds actually caught on fire, and they rebuilt it with the retro design. Once upon a time, it was the best McDonalds around.

[@piercehawke8021]

That McD's is still a hell of a lot better looking than most of the current locations.

[@awesomethings4658]

The eat n park at the highlands is closing on January 15th

[@robertmailhos8159]

Ronald McDonald has left the building

[@kimberlygardner8392]

The room in the back is where they would train their employees for different stores. So if you got hired at a McDonald's you would go there to do your training.

[@joer9323]

I've eaten there many times. It was still open when I left Charleston about 8 years ago.

[@MrBaskins2010]

very dope retro modern flare

[@juliehill7134]

I used to live in Charleston WV haven't been there in years