A store manager (in Norway) once told me that they had a policy to never kick people out, regardless of being paying guests or not. He said this was a policy coming from top down and that they never refused anyone to use the toilet, WiFi or power outlets.
But they never spoke publicly about it, since they didn't want too much press about it. But knowing this put the chain in a different light for me. Seeing people just sitting around reminds me of it. It's a good reminder me that corporations aren't just good or bad.
I think its one of the few places where the profit motive aligns to be somewhat lawful neutral if not lawful good.
McDonald's was one of the first businesses to realize that on the Interstates you get all sorts of weary travelers at various states in their journeys. Some may only need a quick restroom trip. But just making that restroom trip makes them a captive audience to maybe buy a snack they didn't intend to. Or that goodwill of offering a quick restroom stop at one of the trip makes it more likely the customer will return for a meal at the other end of the trip.
McDonald's expanded so rapidly down the US interstates for just this reason, so its interesting that that remains a core value to corporate even knowing that there are plenty more options when travelling than when McDonald's was first starting out.
I know anecdotally so many people that still look for those golden arches when in need of a quick leg stretch or a restroom break on a long drive.
Have you wondered how much marketing goes into the smell of McDonalds? It's a mind corrupting scent and they want to spread it because marketing is even more their core business than actually feeding people. It's feeding in as much as pop soda is hydration.
Ah, I smell a mind corrupting comment right there. Are you literally shaking right now because of the smell of a McDonalds? Come on at least try to have facts or at leastt an argument instead of just hate.
But they never spoke publicly about it, since they didn't want too much press about it. But knowing this put the chain in a different light for me. Seeing people just sitting around reminds me of it. It's a good reminder me that corporations aren't just good or bad.