The fast food giant thought they would open up a shiny new outlet in Dublin's Temple Bar area, a location of historical significance for the city. It's also where the tourists go and the nightlife pops, and what better place for an international icon.
The Dublin City Council said no.
They weren't alone, of course. An Taisce as well as the Temple Bar Cultural Trust were aghast at the very idea that something as non-Irish as McDonald's would land in an area that is prized for its architecture. An architecture that does not feature a single golden arch.
In its ruling, the Council stated that there are enough restaurants on site already. Temple Bar doesn't need a fast-food takeaway. McDonald's would not add to the ambience or the mixture of venues.
And in case that doesn't make things explicit enough, the council also took umbrage at McDonald's planned installation of automatic doors. This is Temple Bar, not the flight deck of the Starship Enterprise. Doors open and close on hinges in this part of Dublin, thank you very much, and entrance is gained by pulling or pushing the physical door.
Not everyone loves the iconic American burger vendor. Not every city feels the need to embrace the odor of frying beef parts for the sake of filling an empty storefront and creating jobs for a few citizens.
Better instead to wait for someone else willing to take a chance on a new business, a different someone who wants to be part of the scene rather than create one.
No comments:
Post a Comment