McDonald’s franchise owners wanted a newer, more modern store in lower Gloucester County.

So Jim Wheeler and his wife Leslie decided to close their store in an outparcel at Hayes Store Shopping Center, raze an old KFC restaurant on the corner of George Washington Memorial Highway and Guinea Road, and build on that parcel a spanking new restaurant with two drive-thru lanes—something new on the local restaurant scene.

Wheeler said not only was the former location in an old building, but they wanted to take advantage of some of the more modern décor available to McDonald’s franchise owners, such as two drive-in order lanes, which allows increased orders. The new restaurant includes café-style seating, upgraded equipment and modern lighting. Gone are the old equipment and the outdoor playground.

The new restaurant, which opened March 12, has an expanded menu, the Wheelers said, as the chain recently rolled out an assortment of bacon-topped premium sandwic...