A McDonald's in Ottowa Canada is closing down after almost 40 years of operation. The location on Rideau Street has been called the 'worst in the world' and is known for its fights more than its food. In 2018, the police were reportedly called to the location more than 800 times, but according to building owner Peter Crosthwaite, the decision to close the location has more to do with money than violence.
"The city tore up Rideau Street and put the subway in, then they re-tore it to enhance it, put curbing in," he said. "They are a pretty dynamic organization, they have the right to look at different spots and maybe they felt the time was right. But there’s maybe things that made it seem more right than usual."
The fast food location has served up its fair share of viral moments, beginning in 2013 with a brawl involving more than 15 customers, and a man pulling a raccoon out of his jacket. Another viral fight occurred in 2015, and a clip called "Legendary Rideau McDonald's" shows three men beating each other with floor signs.
The infamous raccoon fight at the Rideau McDonalds in Ottawa. It is now closed because it was becoming a danger to society. RIP pic.twitter.com/cGhJNZ4aYX
— Ana Chernykh (@anna_chernykh) October 2, 2020
Incidents became so frequent, that Ottawa Police Chief Charles Bordeleau wrote a letter expressing concern to the CEO of McDonald's Canada. Even after the location's hours were amended from 24 hours to a 10 pm closing time, trouble persisted.
McDonald's has elected not to extend their lease on the location into the future. “They’ve been a great tenant for almost 50 years," says Crosthwaite. "They’re smart people. Maybe it was time for a change - maybe they didn’t feel comfortable. McDonald’s doesn’t tell us why they make their decisions."
While it will be sad to lose such a prolific viral clip creator, it's likely that local residents will be relieved to see something else take McDonald's place. Who would have thought that the most dangerous McDonald's in the world would come from Canada?
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