There has been a mixed public reaction to unconfirmed rumours that McDonald’s will open a new store at The Levee in central Maitland.
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The Mercury reported yesterday that long-standing rumours around the city that the fast food chain wanted to set up at the Best & Less premises, near Bulwer Street, were reignited with the announcement that the clothing store would move into the nearby Hunter Mall in December.
Maitland City Council said McDonald’s had not approached city officials about opening a new store in the city.
McDonald’s Australia has not yet responded to the Mercury’s questions, put to them on Wednesday and again on Thursday.
A web poll on Thursday showed 44.73 per cent of respondents would like to see McDonald’s in The Levee, while 35.14 per cent did not.
About 20 per cent of respondents did not care either way.
Comments on the Mercury’s Facebook page reflected this split in public opinion.
“This does nothing to improve the local dining situation,” Karl Lehtonen posted.
“Not really what the area needs. We don’t need Maitland’s answer to King Street McDonald’s on a Saturday night.”
But Beryl Carr had a different point of view.
“Why not? It brings employment to the town and people, you are not obligated to go to eat there,” she wrote.
While Kristy Paterson said she did not like the idea of having a McDonald’s store at The Levee, she understood that the move would make sense for the company.
“I don’t like the prospect of a McDonald’s in Maitland mall either, but as they technically don’t have a store in Maitland it makes sense for McDonald’s as a company,” she posted.
“I believe surrounding store owners have been notified of the go ahead and this will be a wait and see as to whether the restaurant brings more shoppers into the mall.
“As for me, if I want to frequent the smaller cafes in the mall, I will. We all still have a choice as to what we eat/ feed our children.”