McDonalds may move into Glebe

BY CHRISTOPHER HARRIS

McDonalds may be moving into Glebe Point Road in the coming days in the form of a hipster cafe, trying to blend into the local neighbourhood.

A rumour that the multinational company will try to blend its business, like its coffee, in with the local independent stores has locals worried. There have been rumors floating that the cafe will open as a pop up for four days next week, but others saying it would be more like six weeks.

Locals are concerned that the new café at 166 Glebe Point Road will pay low wages and use cheaper products to undercut other local cafes in the area.

McDonalds Australia did not respond to City Hub requests for information on the store opening. A casual employee who answered the customer service phone line said that she could not “see anything” in her system about a Glebe venue but admitted that not all the stores would show up on her database.

Local Amanda Tattersall has started a campaign against the company from opening in Glebe. She said people were angry because it had tried to sneak into the suburb.

“I found out about it with some friends at local coffee shop. There has been no announcement, they have tried to sneak in like the hamburgler. They wanted to sneak in because they know they would be incredibly unpopular before they opened.”

She said that it was a difficult time for independent businesses on the high street, and they did not need to compete with a multinational “with infinite resources”.

President of the Glebe Chamber of Commerce, Kris Spann, said that the company was effectively leaching off the brand that local independent stores in the area had worked so hard to establish.

He said that those in the area were taken by surprise because the company had not consulted with anyone. He said that the village lifestyle that Glebe offered residents and visitors did not fit in with the plan to open a McDonalds.

He told City Hub he thought that the McDonalds might have been better suited to Broadway shopping Centre nearby.

“We’re not lovin’ it. For us we’re in a very crucial time when we really are trying to push our brand identity as a unique experience, compared to other offering in the neighbourhood, including Broadway Shopping Centre, and also the tram sheds in Harold Park.”

Mr Spann, who owns a coworking café on Glebe Point Road, said that he was confident that people would choose any café other than McDonalds. “When it comes to coffee we’re the best in Australia, and they’re the worst. Good luck.”

UPDATE:

On Thursday morning, a City of Sydney spokeswoman confirmed that McDonalds would be opening a cafe in Glebe, but only for a period of up to seven days.

“The subject premises in Glebe has existing development consent for a cafe and under state planning legislation no development application is required as no development is taking place.”

“The café will still be required to comply with the conditions outlined within the current development approval including hours of operation and will still be expected to comply with existing food safety standards.”

“If development works were taking place a development application would be required and the normal exhibition period would apply, in which the community can provide feedback.”