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Ah, McDonald's: Those golden arches are the ubiquitous symbol of cheap, convenient American grub. Or perhaps the universal symbol for high-fructose corn syrup? And with the U.S. market saturated (fun fact: the furthest you can get from a Mickey Dee's in this country is 107 miles), their fast-food empire has spread overseas, becoming a reliable shorthand for the ever-creeping tentacles of globalized consumerism. Case in point: McDonald's has just announced that they've cracked a market that was previously thought to be nigh-unassailable: the Louvre museum in Paris.
McDonald's is celebrating its 30th anniversary in France by opening a "McCafé" in the Louvre's underground entrance, le Carrousel du Louvre. Somewhat unsurprisingly, there was an immediate uproar among the haute couture of a country that prides itself on long, relaxed lunch breaks. One Louvre art historian went so far as to tell the U.K.'s Daily Telegraph that "This is the last straw. This is the pinnacle of exhausting consumerism, deficient gastronomy and very unpleasant odours in the context of a museum."
"The Louvre welcomes the fact that the entirety of visitors and customers, French or foreign, can enjoy such a rich and varied restaurant offer, whether in the museum area or gallery," the Louvre explained in a press statement. "The McDonald's will represent the 'American' segment of a new food court, and will be situated among [other] world cuisines and coffee shops."
Regardless of how this plays out on the rive gauche, McDonald's has already one-upped the Roman Empire by basically conquering Gaul. The chain has been doing gangbusters business in France, and this McCafé will mark their 1,142nd store in the country. Allons enfants de la Patrie, le jour de gloire est arrivé!
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Barf.
Ho my god ! the french are so snobbish not welcoming Mcdonald in the louvre... But... wait a minute... is there any Mc donald in liberty island - New york harbour ? ... no ? ... What a bunch of snobbish americans...
"The McDonald's will represent the 'American' segment of a new food court, and will be situated among [other] world cuisines and coffee shops." ... I think the French know exactly what they are doing.