VIDALIA &045; Vidalians craving a Big Mac won’t have to wait too much longer.

Plans are being made between the New Orleans corporate office and the franchise’s new owner to break ground on a new McDonald’s Restaurant in March.

Marketing Director Robert Kim said the groundbreaking was scheduled for March 28 with an opening planned for sometime this summer.

Gary Small, owner of the three Natchez McDonald’s, said he was finalizing plans with the company to take over the Vidalia store.

&uot;We are delighted to be, in the future, franchising for the McDonald’s in Vidalia,&uot; Small said. &uot;It’s a natural market between Vidalia and Natchez.&uot;

A July 4, 2004 fire destroyed the old McDonald’s restaurant. The fire started in the early morning when the restaurant was unoccupied.

The Vidalia Fire Department ruled the cause of fire undetermined.

In October, then owner Lorraine Stalians turned the management of the store over to the corporation.

Kim said construction of the new building would be a collaborative effort with the new operator but described the new McDonald’s buildings as having a &uot;great, fresh contemporary design.&uot;

Small said he had not yet seen designs for the building but had seen some of the newer models.

&uot;The dcor will be very contemporary,&uot; he said. &uot;I think people will like it.&uot;

Small said the new building will be on the existing lot which is somewhat restricting by its size and shape.

He said he wasn’t sure of an opening date, but hoped the process would move along quickly. The restaurant’s permits must first be approved by the city.

&uot;I think the city would be pretty anxious to get that rebuilt,&uot; Small said. &uot;We want to move it along as fast as we possibly can, and I hope the city will feel the same way.&uot;

Small operated several McDonald’s in the New Orleans area before moving to Natchez.