Frankfort Board Denies 24-Hour Drive-Thru Permits for McDonald’s

Frankfort Village Board Meeting | November 3, 2025

Article Summary: The Frankfort Village Board on Monday, November 3, 2025, denied special use permits that would have allowed two local McDonald’s restaurants to operate their drive-thrus 24 hours a day, with a majority of trustees citing concerns over community character and setting a precedent for future businesses.

Frankfort McDonald’s Vote Key Points:

• The board voted against requests for 24-hour drive-thru service at both the 21011 S. LaGrange Road and 7215 W. Lincoln Highway McDonald’s locations.

• Several trustees expressed that a 24/7 operation was not a good “fit” for Frankfort and questioned the actual need, despite data showing late-night demand.

• The applicant, franchisee Darren A. Freihage, and his attorney argued they have a proven track record of operating safe 24-hour locations in nearby Tinley Park and New Lenox.

• The Frankfort Police Department had expressed no objections to the extended hours, provided the dining rooms remained closed after 11 p.m.

FRANKFORT, IL – In a split decision, the Frankfort Village Board on Monday, November 3, 2025, rejected proposals from two local McDonald’s restaurants to operate their drive-thru windows 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The board voted down separate motions for the locations at 21011 S. LaGrange Road and 7215 W. Lincoln Highway, ending a months-long review process that included split, unfavorable recommendations from the Plan Commission due to safety concerns.

Applicant Darren A. Freihage, LLC, who operates both restaurants, argued that the move to 24-hour service was driven by customer demand and rising operational costs. His attorney, James E. Olguin, told the board that data from their Tinley Park locations showed significant delivery demand already coming from Frankfort residents late at night.

“We believe there’s a demand. We have proven experience. We have proven implementation,” Olguin said, highlighting letters of support from officials in Tinley Park and New Lenox where Freihage operates other 24/7 locations.

Despite these assurances and a lack of objection from the Frankfort Police Department, a majority of the board remained unconvinced that the change was right for the community.

“I just don’t think it’s a fit for our village right now,” said Trustee Adam Borrelli, who acknowledged the operator’s good reputation and the extensive safety conditions proposed with the permit. “I’m not a big fan of the 24 hours just in general in our village.”

Trustee Maura Rigoni felt the request was an “all or nothing” proposition and would have preferred a compromise, such as extended hours only on weekends. “For me, it’s more of just the extent of it going from almost zero nothing to 24/7,” she said before voting no.

Trustee Michael Leddin echoed concerns about setting a precedent. “I hate to use the term, but slippery slope. You know, we start here. What what other ones are next and where does it stop?” he asked.

The motions were supported by Trustees Daniel Rossi and Jessica Petrow. Rossi noted that the police administration had addressed safety concerns and that continuous overnight shifts for employees might be safer than staff arriving and leaving in the middle of the night. “The consensus was that they approved it,” Rossi said of residents he polled. “About 95% out of 100 people thought were okay with it as long as it met all the criteria we required.”

Petrow felt the process had been a “learning experience” and was convinced by the arguments for staff safety and the conditions allowing the village to reassess if problems arose.

During public comment, 34-year resident Bonnie Clark supported the board’s decision. “Do we really need a 24-hour fast food drive-thru restaurant in Frankfort? We’ve survived this long without it,” she said. “We’re not like the other communities around us in many respects and I think that a lot of the Frankfort residents take pride in that fact.”

Both motions failed to achieve the supermajority of four affirmative votes required for approval after an unfavorable Plan Commission recommendation.

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