McDonald's Commands a Real Estate Empire in Russia

New York Times ^ | March 17, 2005 | Erin E. Arvedlund

[srm913]

[Indy Pendance]

" The store serves 30,000 customers a day"

That's amazing!

[billorites]

I love going into McDonald's when I'm abroad.

It's like a taste of home with a local twist.

I particularly like getting a decent espresso when in Europe. Additionally, the availability of a Heineken on tap or a bottle of wine is strong evidence of European cultural superiority

[billorites]

"We had a great relationship with the city of Moscow,"

I shudder to think what was involved in that business deal.

[fishtank]

"Additionally, the availability of a Heineken on tap or a bottle of wine is strong evidence of European cultural superiority"

Cultural superiority? No!

Culinary superiority? Maybe!

[SpaceBar]

Years ago, Ray Kroc commented that McDonald's is not in the food business, it's in the real estate business.

[billorites]

Yeah.

They do some things better in Europe. Highway food is way better.

Gotta lose the squat toilets though.

[SF Republican]

fast-food chains like McDonald's promote obesity, I remember when McD outlawed smoking in their shops, a co-worker said their food had killed more people than second hand smoke ever would

[billorites]

"Years ago, Ray Kroc commented that McDonald's is not in the food business, it's in the real estate business."

Here in New England the second wealthiest family owned business, after Fidelity Corp, is the DeMoulas chain of supermarkets.

Their wealth is in prime real estate, not in the peddling of cereal.

[maestro]

? Walmart (China) Commands a Real Estate Empire in Russia?

[sgtbono2002]

Give me 3 orders of Cabbage pie we are having a fartin contest tonight.

[Boardwalk]

It's not uncommon to see one DeMoulas market just steps from another and they are all raking it in!

[billorites]

"It's not uncommon to see one DeMoulas market just steps from another and they are all raking it in!"

I know nothing about the supermarket business, but they appear to be really well run.

I hear the department managers talking with each other about how many tens of thousands a department, or hundreds of thousands a store worth of business they did on such and such a day.

[Boardwalk]

I happened to be in one today and the manager had her short hair a bright green. I thought that was a little much!

[billorites]

"the manager had her short hair a bright green."

Oh, my goodness!

[Gumption]

I wonder if you have to wait 7 hours for the Cabbage pie to cool down to a mortal mans heat tolerance.

[srm913]

I visited the 2nd busiest, which serves 25,000 a day. It's in Hong Kong, near the Star Ferry Pier. It was quite an institution.
The interesting part is that in foreign countries, people go to McDonald's because they LIKE it. Here, we only go when in a terrible rush, or because the kids want a happy meal.

[Boardwalk]

Well, in Hong Kong, I'd probably prefer the devil I knew to the devil I didn't. I don't have the coordination to eat food that is walking across my plate. :O)

[Diana in Wisconsin]

"I wonder if you have to wait 7 hours for the Cabbage pie to cool down to a mortal mans heat tolerance."

LOL! I've always wondered why there hasn't been a lawsuit over those lava-filled fruit pies they used to sell. (Do they still sell them?) Great Googly Moogly, you could've heated an entire home on the heat put out by one of those pie-things. Ouch!

If I could only break my addiction to the Filet-o-Fish, I would be Home Free...alas, I am weak. They are so good, and yet so bad for me. (Kinda like my current husband, LOL!)

[Goodgirlinred]

I can't believe that there will be super Wal-Marts in Russia. Pretty soon the whole world will look the same as far as fast food and retail shopping.