When and why the h**l did they open a McDonald's restaurant right in the middle of Zermatt?!?

Question

See for yourself - on the right of the picture!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Bahnhofstrassezermatt.jpg

Was it really necessary to ruin and upset the natural beauty of the Swiss Alps like this???

Your honest thoughts and opinions please.

Answer 1

:o Wow. Truthfully, because ALOT of americans go to switzerland. I think it'd be better to go to a place with NO american stores, but sadly switzerland does have H&M, Starbucks Coffee, and McDonalds.

My thoughts and opinion? It's stupid and make it kind of cheezy. McDonald's is NOT a food place i would want to see in such a beautiful place. But i guess there's not much i can do about it. :(

Hope i uhm... explained my opinion clearly? :O

-Kat

Answer 2

I don't think it's that bad, the building seems to blend in with the surrounding styles and the only really obviuos thing is the big red flags, but the building on the left has flags too, so what's your beef?

Answer 3

Any American that travels to Switzerland and eats at a McDonald's should stay at home. I don't eat at McDonald's here in the U. S of  A.  and I d**n sure would not eat at one in Europe where I would have gone to experience what ever that European Country had to offer. What a waste of time and money and opportunity.   Even seeing one would spoil my day.

Answer 4

The way I see it, it's not like they set up one of these...:

http://img.groundspeak.com/waymarking/di...

...in the middle of a pretty green Swiss Alpine pasture, so it's not that bad. I'm sure it's good for business: good for McDonald's of course considering the insane amount of tourists who go to Zermatt, and good for Zermatt itself because a thriving business means more money paid to the city in taxes.

I think that McDonald's seems to blend in pretty well with that street.

That, and the city of Zermatt cannot refuse a business license to McDonald's to set up a restaurant on Bahnhofstrasse just because it's a McDonald's. They can deny them for many reasons, such as inadequate hygiene or poor architectural design that doesn't blend in, but for a restaurant which you know is going to make tons of money, McDonald's is going to bend over backwards to make sure they can set themselves up!

Anyway, yeah, I'm Swiss, and I'm not a huge fan of McDonald's, but I think this is fine.

Answer 5

I don't think it looks bad.

I was in Switzerland over the summer (unfortunately didn't get to Zermatt, though) and preferred to eat local food as I can get McDonald's at home.

Answer 6

Because many Americans come to Zermatt...

Answer 7

It's to keep the Yankie tourists happy I guess!  Obviously doesn't matter what the rest of us think.

Answer 8

When I go the Spain, I have a Paella. When I go to France I try Coque Au Vin, in Belgium Flaamse Fritten, in Czechian "Böhmischer Knödel", in Austrian Kaiserschmarrn, in Italy Ossubuco con Cremolata, in Croatia Mucalica.

When the tourists come across the ocean they want their hamburgers.

Answer 9

Yes, and just like the McDonald's in the states it has the worst tasting coffee. However 3 orders of chicken nuggets, a cheeseburger and 3 ojs was like $52. I dare say that my kids would have starved otherwise because they wanted nothing to do with the local cuisine like bratwurst and potato salad. However as far as decor goes the interior is very traditional Swiss farming architecture pine board construction with decorative  cow bells .