McDonald’s restaurant is set to open at Connerton Corner in late summer.
It is yet another sign that developers are looking north along U.S. 41 to bring retail to Land O’ Lakes, an area where more rooftops are popping up.
A groundbreaking for McDonald’s is expected by mid-April, with an opening date slated for late July or early August.
(Kathy Steele/Staff Photo)
Construction crews currently are preparing the site at the entrance into the master-planned community of Connerton, at U.S. 41 and Pleasant Plains Parkway.
The site is owned by Orlando-based Connerton Corners LLC, according to Pasco County records.
For McDonald’s franchise owner, Jose Hernandez, the restaurant will be his 11th restaurant in the Tampa Bay area. His 10th restaurant recently opened at 11367 Ridge Road in New Port Richey.
Hernandez also owns franchises in Trinity, New Port Richey and Land O’ Lakes. He bought most of his locations in 2014 from Bob Brickman, a long-time franchise owner in the Tampa Bay area.
“(Pasco) is destined for very progressive growth,” said Hernandez, who began his career with McDonald’s more than 25 years ago. He has been an operator/owner since 2008 but also has served in corporate positions including more than four years as president of McDonald’s Caribbean division.
McDonald’s has restaurants in about 120 countries. Hernandez has visited more than 80 of those countries and helped open restaurants in Central and South America and the Philippines.
Hernandez now calls Pasco County home.
“It’s amazing after a world tour to come home,” Hernandez said. “We are very fortunate to be in our location in Pasco County, (an area) that is still under discovery.”
He was 9 years old when his family immigrated from Cuba to south Florida. In 1989 Hernandez relocated to Tampa where he began his career with McDonald’s.
The fast-food chain currently is sprucing up the design of its restaurants including Hernandez’ location at Land O’ Lakes Boulevard and State Road 54.
The company also recently introduced the all-day breakfast to its menu. That is going over well, Hernandez said.
The Connerton Corner restaurant will be testing another new concept – self-ordering by kiosk. The Ridge Road location also has kiosks.
Hernandez said customers can walk in, place an order at a kiosk, then sit down and wait for an employee to deliver the meal tableside.
“I believe it’s a whole different experience,” he said.
It’s a sign of how much social media and new technology is influencing customer service, he added.
Initial testing has been positive but the system will be tweaked to work through any kinks in its operation. Employees will help guide customers through the process. “We’ve done a lot of prep work to bring it forward,” Hernandez said.
The new restaurant initially will fill about 60 to 65 positions. Current employees from other locations will help get the restaurant started but local residents also will have opportunities to apply for jobs, Hernandez said.
“I think it grows from there,” he said.
Published March 9, 2016
