Newly renovated McDonald’s reopens in Whitby with grand opening charity drive

A newly renovated McDonald’s is set to open its doors in Whitby later this month and will donate a dollar from select items to charity to celebrate.

The new location is the latest for Mike Forman, who owns four McDonald’s restaurants in town, following a 46 year career with the company.

He was first hired to take orders and prepare food in 1977. At the time Forman dreamed of becoming an accountant and saw McDonald’s as a means to pay for his education.

However, he instead used McDonald’s to hone his business acumen, calling it “the largest business school in the world.” Forman quickly rose through the ranks seeing promotions every two to three years until he became Vice President for Ontario McDonald’s.

This position led Forman to oversee operations for 500 locations across Canada. Not to be constrained by borders Forman helped launch the first McDonald’s location in Beirut, Lebanon which opened in 1998. With this location, Lebanon became to 103rd country to host a McDonald’s branch.

Forman’s McDonald’s at 1615 Dundas Rd. in Whitby on March 4. From March 18th to 31st, a dollar from each purchase of select items will go to the Grandview Children’s Centre, which provides pediatric and rehabilitation services for children.

Forman has supported Grandview for years sending a collective $150,000 to the centre from his restaurants.