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Report: McDonald's contemplating move out of Oak Brook again

McDonald's, headquartered in Oak Brook, is again pursuing offices in Chicago, Crain's Chicago Business is reporting.

The fast-food giant is only beginning to interview office tenant brokers, Crain's says, citing anonymous sources. But the report says McDonald's CEO Steve Easterbrook has informed employees the company is exploring all options as potential alternatives to its Oak Brook campus.

"Over the past year, we have challenged every aspect of our business, assessing what's best for the long-term and we will continue to do so," McDonald's spokeswoman Becca Hary told the Daily Herald. She would not confirm the report of a possible move.

Crain's says rumors swirling in recent weeks connects McDonald's with Willis Tower, but it also cites sources as saying it's too early for McDonald's to be considering a specific location yet. A company spokeswoman would not confirm whether McDonald's has hired or is in talks to hire a broker, or whether McDonald's is considering moving its headquarters entirely or just looking at other offices, Crain's says. More than 2,000 people are stationed in the Oak Brook offices.

Crain's says Easterbrook told employees Feb. 4 the company's Oak Brook campus is showing its age and becoming more difficult and expensive to maintain.

Last year McDonald's abandoned a deal involving Prudential Plaza in the city. In that deal, reported by Crain's in September, McDonald's had signed a letter of intent for more than 350,000 square feet, enough space for more than 1,000 workers. At the time, Crain's says, McDonald's denied it was looking to relocate its headquarters or to move a large number of workers from the suburbs.

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