The new Supermac’s outside Portlaoise is set to open on Friday, July 31.
Owner Pat McDonagh announced the opening date on a Zoom call with Laois Chamber of Commerce today.
The plaza will be similar in style to the Barack Obama Plaza in Moneygall and to Junction 14 outside Monasterevin.
Initially it was due to open in May and Supermac’s had been advertising and filling numerous jobs in the plaza.
However, that date was pushed back due to the Coronavirus pandemic when all building work was suspended for a couple of weeks.
But work has re-started in recent weeks and anyone driving on the motorway or on the road that leads to Portlaoise Rugby Club and Togher Woods can see that it is nearing completion.
When open and fully operational, it will employ in the region of 80 to 100 full and part-time staff.
“Hopefully there will be no more unforeseen circumstances and we will be able to open to open for the August Bank Holiday weekend,” said McDonagh.
“We’re delighted with the progress – it’s a big investment in the region of €10 million.”
He added that when the Coronavirus struck, the business was left with a decision as to whether to pause the project or to complete it but said “it was an easy enough decision in the end”.
“We had so much put into it. There was no going back.”
All Government guidelines regarding social distancing and service will be adhered to when it opens.
The plaza will be accessed off the M7 motorway at Junction 17, meaning customers will now have two stop-off options at that junction.
The Midway, which now has an Applegreen Filling Station, a Burger King and a range of other food outlets, also is the location of the Maldron Hotel.
The opening of the Portlaoise Plaza will mean that Supermac’s will now have three outlets in Laois – at Manor Stone in Ballacolla off the M8 and in the centre of Portlaoise, which they opened 25 years ago in the summer of 1995.
McDonagh also owns the Killeshin Hotel in Portlaoise.
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