In St. Paul, the longstanding McDonald’s at 1570 University Ave. W. is no longer standing.

Demolition crews tore down the Midway McDonald’s on Monday, capping at least 25 years of Big Macs, French fries, milk shakes and Happy Meals near the busy corner of University and Snelling avenues. Located in the shadow of the Allianz Field soccer stadium, the location — the last remaining retail vestige of the former Midway Shopping Center — had been operated by Courtney Henry, who oversees 19 McDonald’s franchises.

Henry, in an interview last September, said he had no intention of relocating the business elsewhere in the Midway once his lease expired. The store closed on Nov. 27.

McDonald’s at 1570 University Ave. W. in St. Paul. (Google Maps screen grab)

Dr. Bill McGuire, owner of the Minnesota United soccer team, has said he plans to install a hotel where the McDonald’s stood, as well as a parking structure, office building and two restaurant pavilions alongside it within the footprint of the former strip mall and shopping center, now dubbed the United Village development.

McGuire has made no public announcements about a hotel partner or restaurant or office tenants. Still, “expect vertical construction on the office, the hotel and the restaurant this construction season,” said a spokesperson for McGuire’s development team on Monday evening.

McGuire and his family foundation commissioned the creation of “The Calling,” the world’s largest loon statute, a 25-ton, welded stainless steel sculpture — measuring some 89 feet from wingtip to wingtip and 32 feet in height — which has anchored the corner of Snelling and University avenues since mid-October.

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