Not so fast food! Up to 90-minute queues as McDonald’s reopens
DRIVE-THRU IN HUDDERSFIELD HAD BEEN IN LOCKDOWN FOR 10 WEEKS
HUDDERSFIELD went McDonald’s-crazy as customers queued for up to 90 minutes to get their hands on a burger after ten weeks of closure.
Stores which had been closed since March reopened at Gallagher Retail Park and Leeds Road.
Matthew Pitchforth, owner/operator of the franchise at Leeds Road said he was delighted with the response on what was a wet and blustery Wednesday morning.
He said: “Customers have been queueing since 9.30am and we didn’t open until 11am. It’s been great to see so many people flocking back. It’s exciting for the customers and the staff. Everyone just seems pleased to have us back.”
Two of those customers were Mitchell Howes and his brother Esmond, 28, who works in the Middle East and who had been in lockdown for three months.
Esmond said: “I’ve not had any fast food for a long time so I’m certainly ready for some!”
Jane Mellor, from Oakes, said: “I’ve come along with my two daughters. It’s just great to have it open again, we have definitely missed it.”
The Leeds Road operation prior to lockdown was a 24/7 operation but Matthew said initially the idea was to open from 11am-10pm and a limited menu is on offer given the complexity of the social distancing structure staff now have to adhere to.
So far 75 of the 115 staff employed at the franchise have returned to work since the closure on March 24.
Matthew added: “People expect to queue and so far everyone has been wonderful. We have a limited menu so it’s easier for our staff.
“The first stores in the UK opened a fortnight ago and we have been watching how they have done it and learnt from them.”