Friday, March 30, 2007

McDonald's in Dumaguete

A friend of mine once said (jokingly, I hope) that the minimal requirement for a place to be deemed civilized is that it must have a McDonald's. In that case, Dumaguete City (and Negros Oriental) made its grand entry into the civilized world last Sunday with the opening of its first McDonald's.

For years, the question on everybody's mind was not if McDonald's is going to open in Dumaguete... the question was not even when McDonald's is going to open in Dumaguete... but why in the world has it taken so long for McDonald's to come to Dumaguete? After all, the city already has a Chowking, a Shakey's, a Goldilocks, a Greenwich, a Dunkin Donuts, two Jollibees, and even a Pizza Hut. As more and more of these big brand restaurants opened, the gaping whole in society created by the lack of a McDo became more and more apparent. But now, at long last, this city of 100,000+ people has acquired the apex of fast food restaurants.

I couldn't actually get inside McDonald's on that opening day because the crowd was huge. There were people lining up outside the entrance, and the guard would only let people in when other customers came out. In Quezon Park across the street, there were preparations for some sort of McDonalds concert. The governor of Negros Oriental was there for some opening ceremony the previous day. I wouldn't be surprised if there was a parade through the city. Dunkin Donuts got a parade when they opened... the opening of a McDonald's probably warrants a week-long holiday.

I can just imagine the explosion of widespread hysteria that is sure to accompany the opening of the city's first big-name shopping mall, Robinsons Dumaguete, later this year.

9 comments:

  1. Congratulations on the McDonald's. As a guy who's never known another home than Metro Manila (even both of my parents grew up in municipalities that had later became part Metro Manila), I've taken McDonald's for granted. Many of my fond memories were of the McDonald's Alabang branch near my school.

    You'd be surprised at the number of McDo branches in Tokyo. Most of them are really small and they dot the whole place like convenience stores.

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  2. People will surely be flocking Robinson's the way Lee Super Plaza was flocked (understatement) when it first opened.
    I just hope the owners of Robinson's have enough sense to install air conditioning and have it on when they first open the doors to the public, otherwise there'd be a lot of people fainting inside, like what happened in LSP :P

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  3. asking why it took time for McDonald's to rise at dumaguete? hmmm... i think it is because it took a long time to decide and basta.. un na un hehhe:)

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  4. now that robinson's mall is about to open,i am so excited...i wonder if how super lee's business is gonna look like..last time in 2006 i went visit my family in oriental negros...my sister and i went shopping at lee super plaza and i have to used the bathroom and they dont even had any toilet paper at all its disgusting...im hoping robinsons bathroom have a flush toilet and toilet paper with hand soap

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  5. Even though the RLC will soon to open. Lee Super Plaza will still manage to do a good business for the reason. a)Located central of the city b)It does not compete with Robinsons Class A and B customers. c) It sells cheaper goods than Robinsons d) New Lee Plaza City Central Dipolog w/c is bigger compare in Dumaguete proves their good biznez mgt.

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  6. I am from that place dumaguete city I graduated in a state university now> some of my friends asked questioned about the status of the city because dumaguete city ( dead city,) lack of enjoyment and otheres.... why? politics one reason ,maybe same person in the posistion?,, or vice versa. your assistment is better than mine.

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  7. mang inasal food lover<<<

    hello people why wont yopu try mang inasal bianyek to taste the food that suites your tastes but not just that one, it is also very affordable...... so to all barbique lovers go to mang inasal where you can find the best filipino style of barbique

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  8. any update for SM Supercenter Dumaguete...tnx...

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  9. yes...I've read from a website from SM that they have plans for Dumaguete and stating that SM will open its 1st store "SM Dumaguete" in year 2012 somewhere in Mangnao...any updates???

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