McDonald’s: former executive opens a franchise at Yorkdale

Jonathan Greenway, former director of field operations at McDonald’s Canada, is continuing to build his business as a franchisee in Toronto. He opened a restaurant at Yorkdale Shopping Centre on 30 October 2026, just four months after acquiring his first outlet in Scarborough. A third location is planned for the Riverside neighbourhood in spring 2027.

From head office to running two restaurants

According to an article published by Retail Insider on 11 November, Jonathan Greenway spent six years at McDonald’s Canada’s head office, supporting franchisees and their teams. His move into restaurant operations therefore marks a change of role within the same franchise community: having supported entrepreneurs across the network, he is now responsible for two outlets himself.

He acquired his first restaurant, in Scarborough, around four months before the Yorkdale opening. This second location takes his business from a single outlet to a multi-site operation in two distinct Toronto settings.

Greenway’s career illustrates a transition within the brand, rather than the arrival of an entrepreneur unfamiliar with how the network operates. His experience supporting franchisees is established; it does not, however, provide a basis for assuming how well his own restaurants are performing commercially, as the article gives no figures.

Clear responsibilities at Yorkdale

At the Yorkdale restaurant, Greenway is responsible for operations, while McDonald’s handles the property and restaurant development. This arrangement separates the franchisee’s operational role from the brand’s role in establishing the outlet.

The restaurant’s opening hours are tailored to the shopping centre. It serves customers from 9am to 9pm Monday to Saturday, and from 10am to 7pm on Sundays. It therefore opens an hour before Yorkdale’s usual shop opening times.

For the franchise sector, this opening is a concrete example of expansion entrusted to an operator already within the network. The restaurant has been trading since 30 October: it is not merely a secured site or a development commitment. This distinction is particularly important because Greenway is also preparing a third location, whose timetable remains provisional.

A third restaurant planned for Riverside

Greenway plans to open his next McDonald’s at the junction of Queen Street East and Broadview Avenue, in the Riverside neighbourhood. The target opening is around March or April 2027.

TorontoToday reported in September that the municipal permits required for interior alterations had been approved and that work appeared to have begun. These developments indicate progress on the project, but do not confirm its opening date.

The Riverside restaurant is therefore not yet trading. The franchisee’s announced timetable remains subject to progress on the development. At this stage, his portfolio comprises two operating restaurants and a planned third outlet, rather than three locations already open.

Financial requirements are not the same as the total cost

Greenway operates within a Canadian network that, according to McDonald’s, had around 1,500 restaurants in January 2026, roughly 90% of which were run by franchisees.

For prospective franchisees, McDonald’s Canada generally states a requirement of at least C$1 million in personal, non-borrowed funds. This eligibility threshold should not be confused with the purchase price of a restaurant or the full budget required to open one.

The published financial terms require a down payment of 25% for an existing restaurant and 40% for a new restaurant. External finance may be available for the balance. The company also lists royalties of 4–5% of gross monthly sales, rent, and a one-off licence fee of C$45,000 for a 20-year term. These general terms do not describe Greenway’s own financing arrangements.

Key takeaway: for prospective franchisees, this case highlights the importance of assessing the required funds, property and operational responsibilities, and each location’s timetable separately. An operating restaurant and an announced project are not at the same stage of development.