More than $1 million upgrade to Bluffton McDonald's

Life in Bluffton changed forever in 1987. It’s changing again.

In 1987 the Jerry Lewis family opened a McDonald’s Restaurant on State Route 103. Thirty-one years later the restaurant had its third make over and this one cost more than the original building.

The Jerry Lewis Family Restaurants held a grand opening of its more than $1 million upgrade to its flagship restaurant on Tuesday. The design theme is “wood and stone.”

The changes are dramatic:
• Outside digital menu board
• Inside kiosk to place orders (no standing in line necessary)
• With phone app place order, pay on app, park and order is delivered
  (You never need to enter the restaurant), or as Jerry says, “Only to use the restroom!”

Jerry described the first two previous Bluffton remodelings as facelifts. This one is a complete make over. The inside was closed for six weeks while the drive-through remained opened.

Bluffton is one of six Lewis restaurants involved in major makeovers this year. The others are on Elida Road, Northwest Street and Harding Highway in Lima, plus Kenton and Ottawa.

Five were completed last year and six will be remodeled next year.