The first MacDonald's branch to ever close down in the world did in Jordan's downtown Amman!...

Posted by Husam on 10.03.2008

it couldn't face the fierce competition from falafel and hummus. SWEET.

Is it realy the first in the world? That's hard to believe, but not impossible.

Posted by Shalabieh on 11.03.2008

AMMAN RULES. I am glad we were first on that front... now to tackle the other thousands across the globe!

Posted by alma on 11.03.2008

where did you find this information? i want to make a story out of this story.

Posted by razano on 11.03.2008

I have to admit that i learned this from a friend and I didn't check if it was true or not, but ay i like to think of it that way. Let's go to downtown and check to make sure Mac there closed!

Posted by alma on 11.03.2008

It did close a few years ago.

Posted by razano on 11.03.2008

lol man, i haven't been to downtown in ages, i should go there!

Posted by SXTZ on 11.03.2008

Here's another interesting one:

The Hard Rock cafe, Amman's claim to fame the only Hard Rock Cafe to close within less than a year of its opening! :-)

Posted by razano on 11.03.2008

That's soo cool, it deserves to be posted alone, maybe we need to create a feature whereby we link discoveries together???!!!

Posted by alma on 12.03.2008

We also had a Baskin-Robbins ice cream store that closed. It was across from the main gate of Jordan University.

Posted by Shalabieh on 12.03.2008

Dunkin donuts didnt do so well here and now the stores are called donut factory making the same stuff with out the brand! weird no?

So does this mean Ammanis are not brand consious when it comes to food?

Posted by SXTZ on 12.03.2008

Or maybe we just don't get the fact that we have to fall in love with junk food! That's another possibility...

Posted by Ghassan on 25.03.2008

about dunkin donuts:

1. they had to cut down the franchise costs...

2. it's not that famous bran in jordan.. people here see it mostly associated (in movies and media) with us cops and fat people.. maybe that's why

and this way for people can enjoy the donuts without the us brand.. 3o2bal starbucks

Posted by Ghassan on 25.03.2008

and yeah.. the mc downtown only opened for littlie while in the late 90's and then been closed ever since.. who the hell opens a macdonalds (mcdonalds) fel sa7a el hashemeiie.. ya3ne efta7 ma7al kabab walla shawerma.. bs macdonalds!

Posted by Noura on 25.03.2008

I remember Mc downtown, its regarded as a "Piss Stop", also as a US invasion in the heart of amman, thats why it didnt last. I hear stories about how people used to buy sandwiches and drinks near by and eat at Mc... Funny

I wish starbuck gets the boot as well...

Posted by SXTZ on 25.03.2008

Brings to mind the old saying: Location location location! :-)

Support Cups & Kilos then local industry brilliant coffee, they opened in Rabia now brilliant place to go and read and have a coffee. :-)

(And no I don't work for them!) :-)

Posted by Ghassan on 26.03.2008

maybe I should pay them a visit this weekend walid :)

Posted by Noura on 26.03.2008

I second supporting cups & kilos! Though I hate their Abdoun branch, I think it suits their brand better to open in not so "hang-out-mania" places..

Posted by SXTZ on 27.03.2008

I hate the abdoun branch too, but try out the rabia one it is nice. Especially in the daytime/evening. I like going to places when they are empty.

I alos love Books @Cafe in the daytime, relaxed and enjoyable.

Posted by Baker on 22.05.2008

Thanks God it did shut down in Amman's downtown. This is part of the global government, eat the same sandwich wherever you go around the globe, the same cup of coffee, the same pant, the same food, shop from the same bookstore, the same shops, everything is becoming alike. there is no me or us anymore. there's only them, with a global lifestyle system that overpowers our little dreams and humble taste for life.

it's a chance for a Jordanian to outbeat this MC junky sandwich and come up with a restuarant that's customized to our original taste of food. Hamburger, but our way. not their way.

cheerz.

Posted by Ghassan on 22.05.2008

as much as I agree with you, and to know I've been boycotting most american products for along time now.. but hold on the optimism, they only closed the downtown branch only, the others are working just fine.. it was just miscalculation in their feasibility study (hope it happens more often:) )

Posted by alma on 22.05.2008

There is a book called “When Corporations Rule the World” by David Korten. It speaks of the point Baker is addressing. Fantastic read.