CHARLOTTE, N.C.  Washington-based United House of Prayer for All People has purchased a west Charlotte institution closed since June, The Charlotte-Observer reported.
Deeds show the church bought the McDonald's Cafeteria property for $4.2 million from an investment group that includes U.S. Rep. Mel Watt and former Charlotte Mayor Harvey Gantt.
What the church plans to do with the cafeteria and adjacent hotel is unclear. Neither Gantt nor Watt could be reached for comment and efforts to reach church officials were unsuccessful, the newspaper reported.
The United House of Prayer has several churches in Charlotte and operates cafeterias at many of its locations.
Steven Washington, executive director of Northwest Corridor Community Development Corp, said he hopes the new owners will reopen the restaurant.
"It was a cornerstone when we needed to have a place to eat, meet and greet," he said. "And I think that it is important that we continue to support it. ... Hopefully it will have the same name and impact that it had as a meeting place for the Westside as well as for the city at large. That's my hope."
