The landmark Nogales McDonald's next to the international line - the one so many of us visited over the last 35 years during shopping trips to the border town, or on our way back from Sonoran beaches - was demolished Tuesday.
The fast-food restaurant opened Sept. 15, 1976, at the site, 252 W. Crawford St.
It was demolished to make room for a new McD's, to open Dec. 2, featuring a "contemporary look and feel … free Wi-Fi, new high-tech registers, McCafé beverage center and a lot more," franchise owners/operators LeAnn and Pat Richards said in a news release.
In preparation for the demolition, the restaurant held an auction last week to sell off the original restaurant's fixtures and equipment.
Proceeds were donated to the local Ronald McDonald House Charity and to three local elementary schools: AJ Mitchell, Mary Welty and Lincoln.
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DID YOU KNOW?
This McDonald's was built in 1976 by José Canchola, a well-known businessman, former Nogales mayor and Southern Arizona philanthropist who died in 2008 at age 76. He started the tradition of inviting poor youths from Nogales, Sonora, to the restaurant for a free Christmas Day meal.
Gael and Mark Pullen bought the restaurant in 2007 from Canchola and sold it in 2010 to LeAnn and Pat Richards.