A new McDonald’s restaurant is proposed for Route 73 in Marlton, planned for development at the site of a former OceanFirst Bank. The project is scheduled for Zoning Board review on December 15.
If approved, the new McDonald’s would join a cluster of quick-casual restaurants along the highway, including PDQ Chicken and Panda Express. All three restaurants would share connected access into the adjacent Target parking lot.
Across Route 73 is another major shopping center featuring Rastelli Market Fresh, Old Navy, Ulta Beauty, and more.
As expected, the development would require full demolition of the former bank building. According to A View From Evesham, the OceanFirst Bank closed on February 22; prior to that, it operated as a Sun National Bank branch.
The proposed McDonald’s design features the chain’s newer elongated rectangular building style with a darker exterior theme. A similarly styled McDonald’s opened earlier this year in Penns Grove
This architectural trend reflects the broader shift in the fast-food industry toward more modern, block-style buildings, moving away from the distinctive themed designs common decades ago for McDonald’s, Taco Bell, and others.
The Marlton building would be 3,694 square feet and include 36 seats in the dining area. The drive-thru would feature dual-lane menu boards that merge into a single lane near the building. In a somewhat traditional McDonald’s configuration, there would be one payment window and two pickup windows.
Access to the McDonald’s parking lot and drive-thru would come from a shared existing entry drive off Route 73, with Panda Express situated on the opposite side of that shared drive.
As noted, the rear sections of all three restaurants’ parking lots include standard parking as well as an extended access lane linking directly into the Target lot. The main McDonald’s parking area would provide about 20 spaces, with another 20 spaces available in the rear section near the access road.
This layout offers a smart connection between the businesses, giving Target shoppers quick access to the restaurants, while all four businesses benefit from the additional signalized intersection at Target’s main entrance.
The project will go before the Zoning Board for review. While fast-food restaurants with drive-thrus are allowed in this zoning district, the applicant is requesting several variances, primarily involving standard signage, spacing/size, and buffer requirements.
The Zoning Board hearing is scheduled for Monday, December 15 at 7:00 p.m. at the Evesham Township Municipal Building, 984 Tuckerton Road.
Links and Location
McDonald’s (Proposed)
741 Route 73 South
Marlton, NJ
Evesham Township Zoning Meeting
December 15th at 7pm
Evesham Township Municipal Building
984 Tuckerton Road, Marlton, New Jersey
