The moon-headed, piano-playing statue that greeted patrons at McDonald's on the corner of Ninth Avenue and Cervantes Street, will not return after the building is demolished next week.

The restaurant, which closed at 8 p.m. Tuesday, will be replaced by a new building that should reopen in December, said Susan O'Connor, co-owner of the business.

O'Connor, who owns the restaurant with her husband, John, said the new structure will be more modern and upbeat than the previous store. She hopes customers will feel comfortable with the new $2 million building.

"There is a lot of new equipment and initiatives coming down the pipeline from McDonald's, so we needed a fresh look," she said. "It will be a place where the businessmen, the mothers and the teenagers will all feel welcome."

Outlets for laptop computers, TVs and Wireless Internet access also will be available at the new restaurant.

"Because of the pride we take in our business, we opted for the more-expensive option to rebuild rather than renovate," she said. "It was tough decision, but the right one."

The restaurant — which currently has a 1950s feels with neon lights, women in poodle skirts and pictures of music notes and records on the walls — was last remodeled about 10 years ago, O'Connor said.

The new building will feature warm, earth tones combined with rich accents of orange and yellow, and hanging globe lights.

O'Connor said all of the restaurant's 50 employees have been relocated to other stores in the area. Many of the tables and chairs at the restaurant have been donated to Habitat for Humanity.

While the future of Mac Tonight is uncertain, O'Connor said there have been numerous inquiries for the statue to be bought or donated.