Longtime Best Buy Auto Sales to Make Way for Two Drive-Thru Restaurants with EV Charging
Hesperia McDonald’s and Starbucks plan (Courtesy City of Hesperia)Hesperia, California (Our Hesperia) – The City of Hesperia has approved plans to replace Best Buy Auto Sales—located at 15901 Main Street and serving the community for more than 30 years—with a new McDonald’s and Starbucks drive-thru development, featuring 55 parking spaces and electric vehicle charging stations, following a June 4, 2025, Development Review Committee review and subsequent Planning Commission approval.
Project Overview
The proposed development will occupy the southwest corner of Main Street and 7th Street, a site long occupied by Best Buy Auto Sales. At a June 4 meeting of the City’s Development Review Committee, planners presented renderings showing two separate buildings: a roughly 4,000-square-foot McDonald’s and a 2,000-square-foot Starbucks, each with dedicated drive-thru lanes.
Demolition of the existing dealership structures and associated utilities is slated to begin later this summer, with groundbreaking expected by early fall. City staff emphasized that the new design aims to enhance curb appeal and accommodate modern traffic patterns, while ensuring ADA compliance and sufficient ingress/egress points.
The project will provide a combined 55 parking spaces, including short-term stalls for drive-thru pickup and longer-term spots for in-store customers. Both parcels will include electric vehicle (EV) charging stations, aligning with Hesperia’s sustainability goals and regional EV adoption trends.
Site History: Best Buy Auto Sales
Best Buy Auto Sales has operated on the site since the early 1990s, becoming one of Hesperia’s most recognizable used-car dealerships. Located at 15901 Main Street, it was founded by a local family and built a reputation for “quality used cars at fair prices.”
Over the decades, the lot saw hundreds of vehicles pass through, serving thousands of High Desert drivers and employing several local families. Despite recent efforts to modernize, the property’s layout and infrastructure limitations made it less viable for contemporary commercial uses.
The dealership’s owners reached an agreement with developers late last year to sell the property, marking the end of an era for many longtime customers. “It’s bittersweet,” said one anonymous customer in an Instagram comment. “I’ll miss the folks there, but I’m looking forward to grabbing a coffee next door.”
Development Details for McDonald’s and Starbucks
The McDonald’s building will feature two drive-thru lanes—one for mobile orders and one for standard orders—to streamline service during peak hours. An outdoor seating area with picnic tables will face Main Street, complete with shade structures and planters.
Starbucks will adopt a similar layout, with a single drive-thru lane and a small patio for customers. Both franchises have committed to using LED signage and low-emission HVAC systems to reduce energy consumption and light pollution.
City planners noted that electric vehicle charging stations will be installed at both restaurants, offering Level 2 chargers capable of delivering up to 7.2 kW, a feature aimed at encouraging EV usage in the High Desert. Drainage improvements have also been incorporated to prevent runoff into neighboring properties during winter storms.
Community Reaction in Hesperia
Reaction to the Best Buy Auto Sales demolition has been mixed. Some residents expressed nostalgia for the auto dealer’s familiarity and the personal relationships built there over three decades. “That place felt like family,” commented one longtime shopper on a local Facebook group.
Others, especially younger residents, welcomed the coming of national chains. “Having a Starbucks and McDonald’s corner store will boost convenience,” said a Hesperia High School student on Instagram. “The EV chargers are a big plus for me.”
Nearby businesses have shown cautious optimism. A local resident noted that increased traffic could benefit neighboring retailers, provided that traffic flow improvements are carefully managed. Local traffic studies are underway to assess peak-hour impacts and recommend signal timing adjustments.
Economic and Traffic Impact
City economic analysts project that the new restaurants could generate up to 50 direct jobs and significant sales tax revenue for Hesperia. Preliminary estimates suggest annual combined revenue exceeding $4 million, with roughly $160,000 in city sales tax income.
Traffic engineers will conduct a follow-up study once demolition is complete. Early forecasts indicate an additional 200–300 vehicle trips per day, predominantly during morning and evening commute windows. Both McDonald’s and Starbucks have agreed to fund off-site improvements, including expanded turn lanes on 7th Street and upgraded traffic signals at the intersection.
The inclusion of EV charging aligns with San Bernardino County’s push for cleaner transportation. The chargers will be operated by a third-party provider and accessible to the public beyond restaurant customers, potentially attracting EV drivers passing through Hesperia.
