THE doors will close for the last time on Sunday at one of Port Macquarie's favourite eateries.
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The McDonald's at the corner of Horton and Clarence streets has "outgrown" its site, owner-operator Jacqui Jones said yesterday.
But Ms Jones and husband Brett have plans for the business to live again on a larger scale.
"We are actively looking for a site that's going to accommodate the needs of a CBD McDonald's," Ms Jones said.
Those needs include car parking, a dining rooms, a McCafe and drive-through service.
The couple have run the store from its current site since arriving in Port Macquarie seven years ago.
"It was a very big decision for us and for our staff, but we just need a bigger site," Ms Jones said.
Those staff working in the CBD will move to the couple's stores at the Pacific Highway interchange and Settlement City. The Jones' don't have a timeline of when their new store will open, but are looking to get underway "the sooner the better".
Ms Jones said security concerns did not factor into the decision to close the store, which is located at a busy intersection that receives a lot of pedestrian traffic after dark.
"Security has always been a concern for us, but we've always had security measures in place," Ms Jones said.
"In the seven years we've been here we've never had any concerns, and there's never been any issues relating to security because we've always sought to make sure our staff are protected."
Part of that security system includes cameras facing east along Clarence St and south down Horton St.
Previously footage from these cameras has been used as evidence by police.
The Jones will have "footage on file," Ms Jones said, but the decision will rest with the Ritz Centre's owner on how cameras are used at that site.
Property consultant David Munro said he will contact the owner in coming days to determine the future for footage from the location.
Ms Jones was "hopeful" she and her husband could continue to "give back to the community and have a presence in the community".
"It's just important that the community do understand we are actively looking for a site.
"There will be more sites, definitely, and we want to be able to cater to the needs of the community and offer what we can't offer here."