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All the more reason to shop and support locally owned and operated businesses.
I avoid franchises and chains as much as possible (with the exceptions of Pier One, Dillards, Chicos, Central Market, World Market - a few chains like that which have still held on to unique style and quality). I especially avoid restaurant chains, and I rarely eat fast food - no matter what country I'm in.
Why go to the Olive Garden when you can go to Bernards in Tyler, Texas?
While I agree, supporting local business is great, you should compare apples to apples. Comparing fast food to a sit down place benefits neither argument.
I will admit that those pics before me of the fast food chains else where are damn impressive...all of that for a mc.d, burger king....wow they look so damn cool......why didn't they even try with out establishments....we so got the short end of the stick here.
I think McDonald's is more of a kids restaurant and the building should reflect that. It should have bright colours (red, green, yellow), balloons, a playground, etc. I used to love it when I was a kid! There are plenty of fancy restaurants around if that's what you're looking for but McDonald's is not it.
This is what the McDonald's nearest to my home looks like:
It's in a small town so the building isn't that big but I like it! There's a playground on the outside as well but I couldn't find a picture of it.
I prefer to make my own fun. Preferably outside of fast-food restaurants.
Also, that first Columbus, Ga restaurant is quite nice (way nice for the quality of food served), but the second one is fugly as all get out. I would probably cause a crash from the burst of laughing if I drove past that one.
I think McDonald's is more of a kids restaurant and the building should reflect that. It should have bright colours (red, green, yellow), balloons, a playground, etc. I used to love it when I was a kid! There are plenty of fancy restaurants around if that's what you're looking for but McDonald's is not it.
This is what the McDonald's nearest to my home looks like:
It's in a small town so the building isn't that big but I like it! There's a playground on the outside as well but I couldn't find a picture of it.
I don't know about you, but in my local McDonalds I see quite alot of elderly people. Lots of people come there at lunch too.
All the more reason to shop and support locally owned and operated businesses.
I avoid franchises and chains as much as possible (with the exceptions of Pier One, Dillards, Chicos, Central Market, World Market - a few chains like that which have still held on to unique style and quality). I especially avoid restaurant chains, and I rarely eat fast food - no matter what country I'm in.
Why go to the Olive Garden when you can go to Bernards in Tyler, Texas?
I've always wondered this too. Chain sit-down restaurants offer better discounts and "loss leader" deals, but other than the discounted meals, why are they always so full and (most) local restaurants always have less than half the tables occupied when they offer meals at a similar price? The Indian Palace in Duluth has a $9.99 all-you-can-eat buffet which is not that great but better than Old Country Buffet's from 11 to 2:30, but I hardly ever see more than two tables with diners. Compare that with Old Country Buffet (which charges something like $14 now for their dinner buffet), which often is packed. The strangest is that most people SAY they prefer local, independent restaurants to national chains, but their behavior seems to indicate otherwise.
With standardized fast-food, however, there's no comparison, and as a previous poster said, it's not an apples-to-apples comparison. Local places serving up hamburgers and fries generally aim for a higher product quality than the dollar menu at McDonalds, and this is reflected in their prices. I don't know about Jucy's, but I would compare most of the local burger joints to Five Guys rather than McD's.
I've always wondered this too. Chain sit-down restaurants offer better discounts and "loss leader" deals, but other than the discounted meals, why are they always so full and (most) local restaurants always have less than half the tables occupied when they offer meals at a similar price? The Indian Palace in Duluth has a $9.99 all-you-can-eat buffet which is not that great but better than Old Country Buffet's from 11 to 2:30, but I hardly ever see more than two tables with diners. Compare that with Old Country Buffet (which charges something like $14 now for their dinner buffet), which often is packed. The strangest is that most people SAY they prefer local, independent restaurants to national chains, but their behavior seems to indicate otherwise.
The problem here with the buffets (mostly Chinese) is, that the food sucks, it still costs about 9€ and you have to stay for a long time compared to the other lunch restaurants, where they have lunch deals for about 5€ per portion (which is enough, no need for multiple servings at a buffet). Most people just don't have time for a buffet.
But those small restaurants in Vienna, that serve only the office lunch crowd are really good. Mostly organic, high quality, also for take away. Their business is booming.
At the same time, we have a McD right next to the university. There are always a lot of people in there, mostly students that have no time for lunch. They just hurry across the street grab a couple of 1€ burgers and head back.
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There are plenty of fancy restaurants around if that's what you're looking for but McDonald's is not it. 
