McDonald's to Close 175 Restaurants

Reuters ^ | 11/8/02 | Reuters

[DWPittelli]

OAK BROOK, Ill. (Reuters) - Fast-food giant McDonald's Corp. MCD.N , said on Friday that it would close about 175 restaurants worldwide and will miss its 2002 earnings estimate as it continues to struggle with underperforming sales in the U.S. amid stiff competition in the fast-food business.

The company said it will cut 400 to 600 jobs. The actions will reduce fourth-quarter earnings by $350 million to $425 million, the company said.

[Pagey]

Ohhhhh, In-N-Out Burger,it's only 8:50 A.M. and I haven't had Breakfast yet either.That deserves it's own thread.Mmm Hmmm, they open at 10:30 down here......It's been 2 weeks since I've had one,did you really have to mention it this early? LOL and thinking about an Animal Double Double and a Jumbo Lemonade right now, I better to get back to work......ha ha ha--- I have no compassion for McDonalds,as they took out the 'outside seating' at the one I grew up patronizing and put it where parents could watch their kids play,and with a cover no less.Sheesh.IN-N-OUT FOREVER!

[MinuteGal]

I wouldn't mind a bit if they closed mine. Grungy looking indoors and out and lackadaisical employees, many of whom don't speak English at all!

Also, plastic hamburgers and tasteless fries and "milkshakes" which collapse your checks when you try to straw them up. Not to mention that when you get home, you frequently find some kind of mistake was made in your order.

While I do agree that many Americans are changing their eating habits, I also feel that MOST Americans still want a lusciously-greasy fast food fix once in a while. But in trying to be politically-correct to please all tastes, McD's is succeeding in pleasing none.

Assembly-line-mass-production-for-mass-profit in feeding American junk-food lovers has resulted in ongoing lower standards in quality, taste and service.

Leni

[PJ-Comix]

Q: Do you know what they serve for breakfast at the Bangladesh McDonalds?

A: Egg McNuthin'.

[JudyB1938]

I can remember when you could get 7 McDonald hamburgers for a dollar. They were sooo good, too.

I don't remember when the change occurred to cardboard junk. I do know that in 1973, Swift sold meat to them that was "one step above dog food". True story. I worked at Swift, and my boss told me so.

[PJ-Comix]

Remember how McRibs flopped? Well I heard they also tried to upgrade by selling escargot but the public just didn't go for a menu item called "McSlugs."

[PJ-Comix]

Miami Subs down here in South Florida serves MUCH BETTER burgers. Also their french fries are incredible too.

[PJ-Comix]

Out here on the Left Coast, Jack in the Box is very popular (better food, too),

In San Francisco, known as Jock in the Box.

Not to mention Taco Bell, El Pollo Loco, etc., not only popular with Latinos but with Anglos too.

Pollo Gordo (L.A. area) is great too. BTW, they took that Pollo Loco concept here in Florida and serve a similar chicken called Pollo Tropicale. TERRIFIC garlicky taste and nice tropical decor.

[ItsOurTimeNow]

This is what happens when companies are forced to raise the minimum wage for people that don't deserve it. The company ends up paying more for their staff...but they don't get better staff.

[Inspectorette]

Miami Subs down here in South Florida serves MUCH BETTER burgers. Also their french fries are incredible too

Mmmmm..Subs! We have Subway out here, along with Quizno's and Schotzky's Deli. Great stuff. Better for you too.

Dang - I'm hungry, and it's only 9:30 out here. Maybe I'll make some microwave popcorn and annoy all my cubicle neighbors ;-)

[GSWarrior]

Where am I going to stop to use the restroom?

Stuckey's.

[FrankBlaze]

In-n-Out is good, but FATBURGER is king. Magic Johnson just bought this tiny chain. Their cachet is huge fresh burgers for $5, simple menu, old R&B jukebox music, and that JFK ordered from the place when he came out to LA to consort with Marilyn. Great at late night!

[Bane]

What happened? Did Bubba Clinton go on a diet?

[Nuke'm Glowing]

"McDonald's to Close 175 Restaurants"

Representitive Jerrold Nadler (D) of New York goes into total panic and eats one of his aids. He's calling for an immediate Chrysler style aid package to save McDonald's immediately.

[uncbuck]

Hog fat's even better!

As long as the Mcdonalds serving coca-cola in Hanoi doesn't close, we've one the war in 'Nam.

[NEWwoman]

During some of my recent travels (Washington, Idaho), I've heard some people comment (more than once) that certain McD's charge $.35 extra to sit down in their restraunt and eat their food.

Has anyone else heard of this?

If so, I would take my business to Burger King!

[Snuffington]

Darn! Usually McDonald's just starts offering new items to boost profits, rather than downsizing to save cost. I was really looking forward to them rolling out "McSushi," or "Mc Rack of Lamb."

[Joe Hadenuf]

We once threw down half a hamburger from MacDonalds to my German Shepherd. She just sniffed it and turned around and laid down.

LOL! That stuff is true blap.

[uncbuck]

Here in Philly there called Hoagies, and the best is from a deli in So. philly called Ricci's at 11th & Filbert Sts

[YankeeReb]

I've seen a few reasons given by posters here for the decline in US sales, the food quality is going down, people are eating healthier etc etc, but there's another reason that's also contributing to the decline. When was the last time you went into a McDonaldalds and you actually understood what the cashier was saying? In turn, she actually understood you? I don't know about the rest of the country but in the NY, Southern New England area a trip to McDonalds is like a journey to the third world. You have to repeat yourself and speak slowly just to get your order, and half the time it's screwed up. Add to that the declining clenliness of the restaraunt, and it's no wonder people are starting to stay away.

[Thommas]

..it continues to struggle with underperforming sales in the U.S.

I feel that the biggest problem with McD is that they cater to everyone BUT whitebread America. Other chains are making greater inroads on their market share, not because Americans are avoiding fast food, but because the other chains are not excluding the round-eyes in their advertising.

One of the most successful chains locally is a Black family run-and-owned fast food enterprise called "In-Out Burger." They don't cater just to one particular ethnic type, and they are hugely popular. I refuse to go to Mickey D's because it doesn't want my business.