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Well, I think McDonald's are a terrible company, and therefore am in principle opposed to all McDonald's outlets, although I wouldn't do a King Canute about it.
There was an interesting piece somewhere a while back how in many small American towns, the McDonald's functions like a kind of community centre, partly because it's often the only thing left in the town centre, and partly because franchisees and workers often have strong links in the community. I would still argue that it's poisonous to independent businesses, though.
Oliver Schick-
This is the case in some UK branches too.
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There was an interesting piece somewhere a while back how in many small American towns, the McDonald's functions like a kind of community centre, partly because it's often the only thing left in the town centre, and partly because franchisees and workers often have strong links in the community. I would still argue that it's poisonous to independent businesses, though.
Not just American. I either read, or listened to a Thinking Allowed episode, about chain cafes and restaurants and the meaning they had for different people in communities in London. Especially in regard to gentrification. I'm scraping this from the back of my memory, but I think the details were: Chains were generally seen as more welcoming, open, and inclusive to long-time locals and people with lower incomes. New independent places were seen as less welcoming as places "not for people like us."
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There was an interesting piece somewhere a while back how in many small American towns, the McDonald's functions like a kind of community centre, partly because it's often the only thing left in the town centre, and partly because franchisees and workers often have strong links in the community. I would still argue that it's poisonous to independent businesses, though.
Is this the article?
Stonehedge
Aroogah
I only really have specific objections to the one near me (This is bristol, fwiw), rather than being against all potential McDonald’s franchises.
It’s a road that is already inadequate for the level of traffic, which will now get worse with a drive through maccy ds on it. It’a close to an area with some great, independent places to get (much healthier) food, who will suffer. There has been a large campaign to keep them out and they were initially rejected. They basically steamrollered their way through - they were always going to build one there, clearly.