Staff wages at the new Treendale McDonald’s are expected to put $1.2 million back into the Australind community in the first year.

The new McDonald’s opened on December 21, with the official opening last Saturday.

Treendale McDonald’s licensee Nick Tsagaris said young employees were walking away with up to $500 in their first week.

“That’s $25,000 a week through people’s wages,’’ he said.

Less than a month into trading and Mr Tsagaris said he and the staff had been caught unaware by how popular the store had been.

“We were short staffed on the first day because we didn’t realise it would be so busy,’’ he said.

Mr Tsagaris said the store served about 1500 people a day and that in the week following the official opening, staff had settled into their new roles.

“We’re still looking for more staff, especially to fill the night positions,’’ Mr Tsagaris said.

At the official opening on Saturday, staff logged about 1600 transactions – and $1 from every Big Mac and coffee was set aside for Australind SES, who visited on the day.

“Australind SES will be getting about $2000 from the sales made on Saturday,’’ Mr Tsagaris said.

Mr Tsagaris said it was his hope for the future of Treendale McDonald’s that the store would become more involved in the community.

“We also want to progress the careers of local employees into management,’’ he said.

One such employee is Kingston resident Dennielle Rookwood, who will be one of three employees sent to a management course in March.