McDonald's to Move Headquarters from Oak Brook to Chicago: Report

According to Crain's Chicago Business, the fast-food giant is in "advanced negotiations" with the developer that purchased Harpo Studios on the Near West Side

The world's largest fast-food chain may be moving out of its long-time west suburban headquarters and into the city, according to a report from Crain's Chicago Business

McDonald's is reportedly in negotiations to move its headquarters from suburban Oak Brook to the former Harpo Studios campus on the city's Near West Side, according to Crain's. 

The restaurant giant is in discussions with Chicago-based real estate developer Sterling Bay, who bought the four-building facility in 2014 for $30.5 million. 

A spokesperson for McDonald's did not confirm the report Wednesday, saying "When we have information to share it will be with our employees first."

For some West Loop residents, the potential move comes as no surprise, saying the area has changed quite a bit in the last few years. 

"There's already a lot of corporations," one resident said. "Google is here, I mean, they're definitely developing the area."

But for the Oak Brook Village President, the news was a total shock. He told NBC 5 he hasn't heard any official confirmation about the move, but he is "disappointed he was not notified and disappointed that they are leaving," adding that "McDonald's and the Village have had a strong partnership for decades. They have been a leading part of our commercial segment"

According to Crain's, McDonald's plans to move its approximately 2,000 employees in Oak Brook into a 300,000 square foot office space built on the site of Oprah Winfrey's former production house. 

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