MARLBORO — McDonald’s owner/operators Anthony and Alana Marinello recently held a groundbreaking ceremony to celebrate the new McDonald’s coming to 78 Route 9. The ceremony included attendance from Mayor Jonathan Hornik and the Township Council, a $1,000 donation to Marlboro firefighters, a lunch reception and more.
Following a full demolition of the old restaurant on the site, a new 4,320-square-foot restaurant will feature a refreshed design and a modern layout, with two drive-up lanes and curbside ordering available, according to a press release.
Inside the dining room, customers will find digital kiosks, table service and touch screen games for children. The new restaurant is schedule to open later this year.
“As local small business owners, our family has a 40-year history of operating McDonald’s restaurants and serving our local communities in New Jersey, and we are thrilled to bring a modern McDonald’s experience to our community in Marlboro,” Alana Marinello said.
“We would like to thank Mayor Hornik, our local Township Council and Firefighter Jared Billig for joining us for this special occasion, and we are grateful to our exceptional team for supporting this exciting project. We are looking forward to welcoming our customers back to this restaurant in the coming months,” Marinello said.
In a post on social media, Hornik wrote, “Today we broke ground on the Marlboro McDonald’s. The owners are tearing down the old structure, originally built in 1983, and building a new modern McDonald’s (without a playground and ballpit).
“For those of you who grew up in Marlboro like me, we really believed we were put on the map when McDonald’s opened at ‘The Pathmark shopping center.’ That year my dad, Saul, was mayor and I remember the excitement and countless hours my friends and I went after school and on the weekends.
“Then when we moved back, all the times my kids enjoyed a happy meal and used the playground. While I am super excited to see the new facility, today was a little bittersweet saying goodbye to a Marlboro icon,” the mayor wrote.
The groundbreaking event also kicked off a sweepstakes contest – which will run from May through September – in which one lucky winner will receive a prepaid, two-year lease for a new 2022 Honda HRV-LX. The car was featured at the groundbreaking event, and rules and information about the sweepstakes can be found at https://wowmcds.com
As New Jersey-based small business owners, the Marinellos have a four-decade history of operating McDonald’s restaurants and supporting their local communities, according to the press release.
The Marinellos regularly hold McTeachers Nights and support reading programs for local middle school students across all of their restaurants.
They also work frequently with local organizations to provide support; each Thanksgiving, the Marinellos partner with several McDonald’s owner/operators to supply 1,000 turkeys to Fulfill, the largest food bank in Monmouth and Ocean counties, according to the press release.
At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the family donated meals to local hospitals to directly support front-line workers.
In addition to their Marlboro restaurant, which they purchased in 2016, the Marinellos own and operate McDonald’s restaurants on Route 34 in Aberdeen Township, on Route 36 in Union Beach and the Leonardo section of Middletown, on Route 35 in Hazlet, and on Route 9 in Old Bridge, according to the press release.
