Queues come thick and fast
Palmerston North has jumped at the chance to go out for takeaways as lockdown level three opens the doors to fast-food joints across New Zealand.
Punters had their choice of the easy, greasy giants Burger King, Mcdonald’s and Carl’s Jr, and Subway, as drive throughs reopened yesterday, however, Wendy’s on Rangitı¯kei St and KFC on Princess St were missing from action in the morning.
Emily Bailey queued at the Princess St Mcdonald’s at 10.30am, waiting patiently on her day off from Countdown to get her hands on cheeseburgers.
Bailey hadn’t been hanging out for fast food throughout level-four lockdown, but others in her bubble had.
The entrance from Princess St was blocked off to stop chaos ensuing, but cars had been lining up around the corner on Ferguson St since 5am, owner Justin Leck said.
Leck owns Mcdonald’s restaurants in Levin, Dannevirke and on Rangitı¯kei St, Princess St and in The Plaza in Palmerston North.
He arrived at his Princess St site at 4am to prepare for the onslaught of customers.
‘‘We’ve been planning for this since we closed.
‘‘It started off crazy, but we’re busier in the evening so I think it’s going to be crazier than this,’’ Leck said.
During a typical week, two supply deliveries would sustain a restaurant, but Leck upped it to four to keep Palmerston North fed.
The franchises are taking cash, but prefer no-contact payment. They are providing the whole menu bar a few items such as shakes, sundaes and bagels because of delivery problems, but that should be rectified tomorrow.
‘‘We’re not going to run out,’’ Leck said. ‘‘People won’t miss out on their big mac.’’
Tracey Collis and daughter Brianna Henry’s car was idling at Burger King’s Rangitı¯kei St waiting for a $5 stunner meal.
They had already braved the almost 100-metre long line at Mcdonald’s further down the road for Collis’ big mac before entering Burger King’s shorter queue.
Although her mother had a soft spot for Mcdonald’s snacks, Henry had been holding out for the Burger King ‘‘BK meal’’ since lockdown started
‘‘It’s got cheaper meals and the burgers are not as greasy as Maccas,’’ Henry said.
One unlucky punter had to leave the franchise’s line without his whopper because he had only cash in his car.
‘‘It’s bloody annoying,’’ Todd Parker said before heading to Mcdonald’s.
‘‘I was going to buy heaps of burgers because I haven’t had any for amonth.’’