After a Decade Empty, Galewood's Long-Vacant Mobile Ave. Building Is Finally Getting New Life — As a McDonald's
By Socialhood News · Il/Chicago/Galewood ·
A building that has sat vacant on the edge of Galewood for over a decade is finally headed toward a new chapter. McDonald's is moving ahead with plans to open a restaurant and drive-thru at 1606 N. Mobile Ave. — the site of the former Walgreens that closed back in the summer of 2015 and later ended up in foreclosure in 2022. The news was reported this week by Austin Weekly News, with photos showing active construction now underway at the long-dormant site.
The development hasn't come without conversation. Since McDonald's first set its sights on the location back in May 2023, some neighbors have raised concerns — particularly around traffic and the drive-thru's impact on adjacent residential blocks on Mobile Avenue. Those discussions played out in community meetings and even at the Zoning Board level, reflecting Galewood's deeply engaged civic culture and the neighborhood's expectation that development happens with residents, not around them.
Love it or debate it, one thing is undeniable: a building that served briefly as a COVID-19 testing site and otherwise sat idle for more than a decade will soon be an active, operating business again. For a community that cares deeply about the vitality of its commercial corridors, that's a development worth watching. Stay tuned for updates as construction progresses — and as always, keep the conversation going at galewoodneighbors.org.
Sources:
1. https://www.austinweeklynews.com/2026/08/10/galewoord-mcdonalds/