Marc Leclerc-Video shows 'world's fanciest' McDonald's, complete with grand piano, gutted by Helene

2025-05-06 20:35:25source:Devin Grosvenorcategory:Markets

A pretty special McDonald's took a big hit after Hurricane Helene rolled into North Carolina,Marc Leclerc which caused unprecedented devastation and destruction to a number of states across the Southeast.

The McDonald's, located in Asheville, was one of many structures in the historic Biltmore Village, an 8,000-acre property affected by "catastrophic flooding," according to reporting by Florida Today, part of the USA TODAY Network.

Biltmore Village is expected to remain closed until Tuesday, Oct. 15, but may remain shuttered longer as crews begin to assess the damages caused by the storm, which killed at least 200 people.

The McDonald's franchise, built in 2000, was renovated to exude the "high-society elegance" that other bars, restaurants, clothing stores within the Biltmore Village, and was dubbed the "world's fanciest" McDonald's, according to reporting by Atlas Obscura.

Before Hurricane Helene completely gutted the inside of the McDonald's, customers were greeted with red oak tables, wrought iron railings, "and luminous chandeliers under a sweeping pressed-tin ceiling, with every wood feature boasting a handsome finish," Atlas Obscura reported.

A baby grand piano stationed in the corner only elevated the dining experience, playing music as customers waited for their orders or tucked into Big Macs and Chicken McNuggets, Atlas Obscura reported. The McDonald's even had a giant stone chimney.

USA TODAY has reached out to McDonald's for additional information.

Watch: 'World's fanciest' McDonald's left in ruins after Hurricane Helene

As an Uber and Lyft driver, Vitor Sa drives by the corner everyday despite never eating there, he told USA TODAY on Friday. The fancy McDonald's is now caked by at least a foot of mud, Sa said.

"I have passengers this week that I picked up and their family is just like 'We're not going to be able to go to McDonald's and Wendy's anymore this week,' because they're all closed. They're completely destroyed," Sa said. "Their kids are missing the McDonald's that was there."

Contributing: Anthony Robledo

More:Markets

Recommend

Warm inflation data keep S&P 500, Dow, Nasdaq under wraps before Fed meeting next week

Friday the 13thdidn’t spook investors with U.S. stocks little changed on the day as investors bided

The True Story Behind Apple TV+'s Black Bird

Jimmy Keene did the crime but he really didn't want to pay the time.And why would he? For 15 years,

‘Mean Girls’ takes 1st place at the box office. So fetch.

Winter storms and cinema closures in North America didn’t dampen the opening weekend for “ Mean Girl