By Lev D. Zilbermints
After more than 30 years, the McDonald’s located at 772 Broad Street in Newark has closed its doors for good. Located just off Market Street, the building was very popular with school students, the public, and even the lower strata of society. Apart from the food, this particular McDonald’s was known for having multiple bathrooms.
According to comments posted on Reddit.com last month, McDonald’s closed down because it failed to pass a health inspection. One poster, “Kalebxtentacion”, posted last month, “It (McDonald’s) closed down because they failed an health expectation. Or whatever it is called. It is sad to see another empty space.”
Another poster, “whatyoumean753,” posted on Reddit.com, “It (McDonald’s) was always a dirty place. I don’t see how NOW of all times they failed the inspection and got shut down. They should have failed a long time ago.”
“Nwkarms,” a third poster, wrote, “There was a video of a rat in there, I remember.”
A fourth poster, “trognj”, wrote on Reddit.com, “Wow… that McDonald’s has been there for 30+ years. My aunt worked there as a teenager. She’s in her 50’s now.”
“Local Talk” reached out via Facebook Messenger to Jessica Quintana-Dicelli, the part owner of the McDonald’s chain that included the one by Market Street. As of print time, no comment was available.
Connection to chess, 2010-2016
In the past, from 2010 – 2012, and up to 2016, McDonald’s hosted chess tournaments and simultaneous exhibitions in Newark and East Orange. Ms. Quintana-Dicelli became the sponsor of the Newark McDonalds chess team. The team plays regularly in the Garden State Chess League. Team members had their United States Chess Federation (USCF) memberships paid for by McDonalds. Moreover, the team played in the United States Team Amateur East (USATE) championship, held in Parsippany, at least once.
In 2016, Newark McDonalds chess team won first place in the McCormick Division of the Garden State Chess League. McDonalds, as the patron of the team, awarded Newark McDonalds a big trophy.
2016-2022
During the six years between 2016-2022, the area around McDonald’s changed. Many stores moved out or went out of business. Wells Fargo Bank opposite McDonald’s closed and moved to Clinton Street in Newark. The pharmacy on the intersection of Washington Street and Market Street went out of business. The start of the coronavirus epidemic in 2020 increased the closure of area businesses and stores. No one knows what will take the place of the McDonald’s at 772 Broad Street in Newark. As one Reddit.com poster wrote, “It is the end of an era.”
