Fast-food chain restaurants are not exactly places that people normally get sentimental about. But when news that the first McDonald’s – or locally referred to as McD – outlet to open in Indonesia will be closing for good this weekend got out, netizens got unexpectedly emotional.
Located in the Sarinah department store compound in Thamrin, Central Jakarta, the arrival of this McDonald’s outlet in 1991 marked the eventual takeover of the “golden arches”. For many who had good memories there, it’s the end of an era.
On 8th May 2020, McDonald’s Indonesia announced via their Instagram account that Sunday, 10th May 2020 will be the last day of operations for the Sarinah outlet.
Image credit: @mcdonaldsid
According to the official @mcdonaldsid Instagram post, the iconic Sarinah department store is scheduled to undergo a major renovation and revise its business model. The compound’s management has therefore, had to ask McDonald’s to close.
The late boxing legend Muhammad Ali ordering food at McDonald’s Sarinah in 1996
Image credit: indosport.com
Besides the fact that McDonald’s Sarinah was the first outlet of the fast food chain to set foot in our country, it was also where the late legendary boxer Muhammad Ali once had breakfast – along with 100 fans who followed him into the store – in 1996.
To some, it might be a bit strange that so many people are getting teary-eyed over the news. But for those who grew up in the 1990s and have plenty of fond childhood or teenage memories there, it’s definitely a loss.
So it’s understandable that the comments section of the announcement post was immediately flooded by netizens’ sad emojis and nostalgic stories.
Image credit: @mcdonaldsid
Instagram user @irmamame commented that she used to go to McDonald’s Sarinah all the time when she was in kindergarten because she loved the huge Ronald McDonald’s balloon.
Image credit: @mcdonaldsid
Another user @m10dk_store shared their sadness, saying that the place is filled with memories. The commenter also hopes that McDonald’s Sarinah will find a better place to relocate to.
Image credit: @mcdonaldsid
Written entirely in uppercase, @qnzhrn’s comment expressed her sadness. She said that the store was basically her second home whenever she had to work overtime.
Image credit: @mcdonaldsid
@nandtasya shared her experience of going there as a child, mostly because her mother worked at Sarinah. “Too many memories…” she said in her comment that ended with crying emojis.
Image credit: @mcdonaldsid
Sad news often inspires denial, and this was the case with user @haisisca, who has hopes that it’s just a prank.
Image credit: @mcdonaldsid
But of course there’s always a joker somewhere in the comments section. @hfzlhmd_ said “Closed? Isn’t it open 24 hours?”
“All good things come to an end,” the saying goes. While it’s the end of an era for the first McDonald’s outlet in Indonesia, the good memories that people who patronized the outlet is something that no one can take away from them.
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Cover image adapted from: @jktinfo
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