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A McDonald's Outlet To Open At The Louvre Museum Causes Outrage

by Yuliya Talmazan | October 5, 2009 at 08:30 am

629 views | 6 Recommendations | 7 comments

A first ever McDonald's outlet is to open at the Musée du Louvre in France. The Louvre is the largest national museum in France and probably on the of the most recognizable landmarks in Europe. It is not surprising, therefore, that museum workers and locals found the Louvre to be an odd choice for a McDonald's outlet to open at the museum next month. The museum's administration said the opening of a McDonald's outlet at the Louvre was "in line with the museum image." France was one of the first countries that McDonald's has expanded to abroad. It has been operating in the country for 30 years now.

McDonald's confirmed that a restaurant will open next month. The Louvre confirmed it will be positioned in the underground approach to the Louvre, known as the Carrousel du Louvre.

"The Louvre welcomes the fact that the entirety of visitors and customers, French or foreign, can enjoy such a rich and varied restaurant offer, whether in the museum area or gallery," the museum said in a statement.

There are many aspects to this story that are surprising. First, it is peculiar to see French government giving a green light for the opening of a typically American food retailer at one of its most well-known tourist sites. Why was not a French restaurant chain picked? How representative is it to have McDonald's logo juxtaposed to the Louvre Palace? Secondly, one would think that having the smells and flavours of a fast food chain right next to the temple of human ingenuity bearing thousands of world masterpieces would be a little belittling, if not offensive.

What is your take on this? Do you think this is the ultimate consumerism, or sober capitalism that just brings in the extra revenues from the millions of tourists passing through the Louvre every year?

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Diana Lautenberger (not verified)

at 09:08 on October 5th, 2009

This is shocking, repulsing, tragic, and disheartening all at the same time. I cannot believe that we as a culture have people have come to the point in history that we keep nothing sacred, nothing precious, and nothing pure. Is there anyone out there willing to fight this? What is even more sad than the actual McDonald's going in, is that no one will fight it. I mean truly fight it in guerilla, grassroots-activism ways that create real social change. What has happened to the world we live in? DON'T LET CORPORATIONS RUN YOUR LIFE!

Hugh Askew

at 09:28 on October 5th, 2009

Why Micky D's? Taco Bell too exotic??

a211423

at 09:41 on October 5th, 2009

First of all, France is noted for their cuisine, so having McDonalds at one of their most revered and even sacred and treasured locations is a bit puzzeling. Whatever facade they chose to have on the structure, it's still a fast food place with the smell of fried burgers wafting through out the building. Does this cheapen the atmosphere? Ultimately, it's going to be up to the visitors who either decide this of okay, or ask "why didn't you install a boulangerie?"

What would Mona Lisa say if she could voice her opinion?

jefhow22

at 11:59 on October 5th, 2009

LaMcDonalds finds its way into every nook and craney that its Ronald clawing fingers can fit into. There are more McDonalds in the States than Carter has liver pills. They will shut down one and build a new one a block away. In Hampton Beach, New Hampshire there is a seasonal Micky D's. During the summer it is bustling with tourist and during the winter its teeming with the local seabirds. For McDonalds to find it's foothold at the Musée du Louvre in France is not only Corporate greed but also a slap in the face of cultural art. I agree with a211423. It will be ultimately decided by the visitors to either trade with McDonalds or not.

VincentMin (not verified)

at 23:32 on October 5th, 2009

I am Parisian, honestly I don't care of the McDonald's in Louvre mall (Carousel du Louvre), yeh the Louvre is also an underground mall next to the museum. There is already a Starbucks in this mall, ext to the Rue Rue de l'Echelle does also have the big M and the green S. Infact it is the whole city, metropolitan area of Paris and France that is full of McDonald's. France is the second big market of McDonald's after the USA. Myself even it is a very long that I didn't eat in here I don't care because I never seen Paris without. Paris before being the "city of romance" (fake when you live in) is a big global city of 12 million inhabitants, so it does have fast foods, big chains, skyscrapers (not in the center), a very multicultural and multiracial population and I am very happy of it.

a211423

at 15:47 on October 8th, 2009

Vincent

Thank you for your impressions, and it is your city after all.

I bow to your observations.

qwert687t87y7 (not verified)

at 04:26 on October 14th, 2009

This is almost as bad as the Starbucks that they had in the Forbidden City. Still, McDs will cater for people who aren't willing to fork out for expensive food at the other Louvre restaurants. Anyway, all this talk of Maccas has got me hungry. Imma grab a big mac meal =)