Encino McDonald’s Remodeling Due

Steven Ho, owner of three McDonald's restaurants in a four-mile stretch along Ventura Boulevard, has big plans for remodeling the Encino , and hopes to begin construction work there in late September.

Ho, whose McDonald's restaurants are located between and Wilbur avenues, bought the 40-year-old restaurant at White Oak three years ago. At the time, he knew it needed to be rebuilt for customer comfort and efficiency in the kitchen.

Ho said he is now in the final phase of gathering permits for remodeling the restaurant at into a state-of-the-art business he claims will be the “center of gravity” for the community.

“Where do families go on Ventura Boulevard in Encino? There aren’t any family restaurants where you can go to, say, after a soccer game, or after church, or the Encino Community Center, except McDonald’s that offers menu items for everyone at reasonable prices,” Ho told Patch. “This is what I mean by the center of gravity. A place where Encino families can go; a comfort zone with comfort food for families and kids.”

Ho, 55, said he has received all the necessary city approvals. Now it’s a waiting game for construction permits before work begins, which he hopes will begin in late September and finish in three to four months' time.

The new McDonald’s is to have a double-lane drive-through to accommodate many of its customers. The bathroom will be inside, instead of outside.

The outdoor children's playground at the front of the property is to be removed, Ho said, because there is no need for that type of amenity in the area anymore.

The lobby will be trendier and the kitchen will be laid out to accommodate menu items McDonald’s has added in recent years, including oatmeal, smoothies and salads.

Ho, who bought his first McDonald's restaurant, at Haskell Avenue, 11 years ago, is well-known in the Encino community as a supporter of local schools, Encino Community Center events and the Encino Chamber of Commerce. He said it’s easy to write a check, but that for him, that’s not good enough. He described himself as a hands-on type of guy who needs to get involved.

“McDonald’s training is about giving back to the community we serve, getting involved with the community we do business in,” Ho said.

The father of two Harvard Westlake High School students and husband to Helen, his business partner, Ho said his commitment to the community comes from his many years on the job as the McDonald’s Southern California food service manager and as a franchise owner for nearly a decade.

He deals with the operational side of his business, while his wife controls the purse strings. The couple employs 160 people among the three restaurants.

During the White Oak site remodel, that restaurant's employees will be relocated to the other Ventura Boulevard restaurants, Ho said.

When the construction is completed, all three restaurants will be open 24 hours, seven days a week, he said.