McDonald’s, the globally recognized fast-food chain, is set to return to Ottawa’s ByWard Market at 377 Dalhousie Street.
The new location is taking over a site near the intersection of Dalhousie Street and Rideau Street, where signs indicate the restaurant is “coming soon” and hiring for multiple positions, according to CTV News. While the company has not officially confirmed the opening, local reports suggest this will mark McDonald’s return to the area nearly two years after its previous Rideau Street location closed in 2023.
McDonald’s previously operated at 99 Rideau Street for about 40 years, attracting both late-night crowds and viral attention, including incidents involving police calls and unusual customer behavior. The former location had operated 24 hours a day until 2019, when hours were reduced following concerns about criminal activity. Around 200 people reportedly attended a farewell march when the restaurant closed.
The ByWard Market area has not had a McDonald’s for nearly two years, with the closest locations currently on Bank Street, Elgin Street, and Maisonneuve Boulevard in Gatineau. The new Dalhousie Street location will provide locals and visitors with convenient access to the chain’s menu of burgers, fries, breakfast items, and beverages. However, operating hours have not yet been announced.
McDonald’s Canada’s former CEO, Michele Boudria, previously expressed interest in returning to the ByWard Market, noting in 2024 that she was excited about the potential to open a new restaurant in the neighborhood when the opportunity arose.
This new location will allow McDonald’s to reconnect with Ottawa’s Lowertown community and serve both daytime shoppers and evening visitors to the busy market district. Hiring activity suggests the restaurant will bring new jobs to the area, continuing McDonald’s long-standing presence in Ottawa’s downtown core.
