EPHRATA - Improving customer experience at the Ephrata McDonald's is what drove owners Dale Mills and Chuck Hillis to do a complete overhaul of the fast-food location. The Ephrata McDonald's has been under construction for the past few weeks.

According to Mills, the fast-food restaurant will feature two drive-thru lanes instead of one and their lobby will be extended by 58 square feet by the time construction is complete.

"With two order points, that should help out and put customers through a little quicker," Mills said.

In addition, Mills said the restaurant will be redesigned to carry a more contemporary look, complete with custom graphics and wood grain surfaces.

"We're updating the exterior as well as the interior," he said. "It's a totally different look."

Mills and Hillis own seven McDonald's restaurants throughout Central Washington. So far, six have been remodeled to fit the new "arcade look" that McDonald's restaurants nationwide are adopting.

Mills said that the McDonald's corporation hopes to have all its restaurants model the arcade look by 2014. Currently, 50 percent of McDonald's restaurants around the country have the new look.

Mills said the drive-thru has been open for business during construction, but the inside has not. Construction will be complete and the lobby will officially open again today, he said.

Mills said the company will be celebrating the completion of construction with a couple of events this month.

McDonald's in Ephrata will host a "McTeacher's Night" event on Nov. 15 as a fundraiser for the St. Rose of Lima elementary school, he said. Teachers from the school will serve the community from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. that day, and a portion of the proceeds will go back to the school.

According to the business partners, giving back to the community is important to them, which is why they try to host a couple of McTeacher's Night events each year.

"We appreciate the support from the community over the last 22 years at this location, and are looking forward to serving the community for many more years," Hillis stated.

Mills said the restaurant's grand re-opening will take place on Saturday, Nov. 17. The public is invited to attend the celebration, he said.

Ronald McDonald will be at the event, and several raffle prizes are provided, said Mills.

David Alvarado is the general manager of the Ephrata McDonald's, which is located at 1010 Basin St. SW.