FARGO — The McDonald's restaurant at 905 Main Avenue will close for business Dec. 31.

The reason is due to a "2020 lease expiration," according to a handout the restaurant included with orders Thursday, Dec. 26.

The note invites customers to visit other nearby McDonald's restaurants at 228 8th St. S. and 3009 Highway 10 East in Moorhead and 1220 19th Ave. N. and 2424 S. University Drive in Fargo.

Anne Christensen, brand reputation director of McDonald’s USA, confirmed the lease expiration and the location's closure.

"Employees are being offered positions at the franchisee’s other nearby locations," Christensen said. "They are also hiring additional employees at their other locations as well."

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She also shared a statement from the Main Avenue McDonald's Owner and Operator Kevin Cook.

"McDonald’s reviews its restaurant portfolio on a regular basis to make the best decisions for our business moving forward," Cook said. "Closing a restaurant is a difficult decision in any town but we look forward to continuing to serve our customers at our other McDonald’s restaurants in the neighboring communities.”

The Main Avenue restaurant was the scene of fatal drive-by shooting last year. On Sept. 23, 2018, Miguel Jay Cooley, 44, drove his vehicle to the restaurant and fired a gun at 20-year-old Gabriel Perez, who was sitting on a curb according to court documents and information provided in court hearings. In August, Cooley entered a guilty plea on a Class AA felony count of intentional murder.

Court records show investigators believed Cooley became jealous over a possible relationship between his wife, Izetta Cooley, and Perez. But Izetta Cooley previously said no such affair existed.