When I walk into a Chipotle's, a Starbucks or even a Chic-Fil-A for lunch, you have all these yuppie types furiously texting on their mobile devices. Yes, they are annoying and many of us older folk make fun of them. But they are basically decent people who mean us no harm. They are busy, industrious and are well-dressed, considering the fashions of the day.
Also, the food product in these establishments are attractively priced and packaged and it tastes good. The people serving up this food are friendly and very, very hard-working. They are usually smiling about it too. They seem happy to be there.
Now back to McDonalds. The people inside can be quite scary. Many of them are dressed like hoodlums. They got the untied sneakers, the loose pants hanging down from the waist, the angry-looking T-shirts with the gold chains and the ballcap twisted sideways or backwards on their heads. Those folks are generally scowling or otherwise seem to be on the prowl for some sort of trouble.
The workers behind the counter appear nervous and not quite so happy to be there. They scurry about, grabbing foil wrapped "sandwiches" from some metal bin that people unseen, from the bowels of the "kitchen", send through the chutes, and shove them into a paper sack.
The food at McDonalds is not so good. I have to order my sandwiches with no condiments because when they are applied, everything looks slimy and gross. The milk shakes seem neither milk or shake, but rather a cup of cold gook that comes from a large stainless steel machine. There is really something "quite off" about the McDonalds menu.
The typical McDonalds is just not a happy place. Some of the larger restaurants have a "play area" for children that is rather quite sad and lonely. No children actually ever play there. It's like looking at the swingset in a neighbor's yard whose kids grew up and moved away.
Then you got the guy with the mop. Why does McDonalds send a guy through the store dragging a dirty mop across the floor? What is up with that? The "mop guy" is always some old, creepy guy, who probably got let out of prison after a 40 year sentence for some sex crime. And mop guy always comes to the table you are sitting at and tries to work the mop around under your feet. Why do they do that?
Yes, if I owned a McDonalds, I'd be nervous too. I don't see them getting their mojo back. There is just too much competition that offers a more cheerful and pleasant atmosphere.
You raise some excellent points.
I know one McD store in the area that pipes adult standards from the 40’s and 50’s into the parking lot to chase the Amish Yutes away.
Two others downtown were operating more or less as open drug markets. One has since closed.
Many stores have done away with the play area due to liability concerns. My kids used to love them in the early 90’s. McD is no longer seen as a “fun” place for families.
Food is not good as they are continually caving to government demands to cut fat, salt, etc.