McDonald's To Open A Restaurant Inside The Louvre

PARIS — French culture and American convenience will come together in December – thanks to plans by the McDonald's restaurant chain to hang its shingle in the shadow of the Louvre.

McDonald's is delighted at the prospect of feeding hungry culture vultures. But not everyone is happy about mixing high art and fast food.

The McDonald's will be installed in the food court of the underground mall adjoining the museum, known as the Carrousel du Louvre, as the fast food chain fetes its 30th anniversary in France, McDonald's France said.

The pairing could serve the interests of both. The Louvre is the world's most visited museum; France is McDonald's top market outside the United States.

In France and elsewhere, McDonald's is emblematic of U.S.-driven globalization and the homogenization of cultures. However, the fast food chain's chief executive, Jim Skinner, said in an interview published Monday that the reason McDonald's is such a hit in France, where it has over 1,000 outlets, is that "we are perceived as a French enterprise."

The McDonald's on the famed Champs-Elysees Avenue is the most profitable in the world, he said. The interview was published in the economic daily Les Echos.

The Louvre refused comment on the expected arrival of its new neighbor. Spokeswoman Aggy Lerolle said only that it is not up to the museum veto McDonald's arrival since the Carrousel is run by a private company rather than the state-run museum.

However, some French are indignant about mixing French fries and art treasures in the backyard of the former palace of the Sun King, Louis XIV.

The Web site louvrepourtous.fr, which is aimed at keeping museum visitors informed, is among those whose hackles have been raised at the coming of McDonald's, even in a food court where a variety of restaurants offering cuisines of the world are present.

"Rendezvous in December for a Mona Lisa Extra Value Menu," it wrote, contending that the Louvre could have, and should have, put its foot down.

Some saw McDonald's taste for art coming long ago. In January 2007, the culture wing of the large CFDT union decried what it said was the "Disleylandization" of French culture, claiming the state is looking to turn museums into theme parks. It cited plans for the so-called desert Louvre, to open in 2013 in the United Arab Emirates, and the arrival of a Starbucks coffee house near the Louvre.

"When will McDonald's set up shop?" the union asked, perhaps more presciently than it wished.

McDonald's says no date has been set for its opening at the Carrousel du Louvre.

European art and what passes for American cuisine have crossed paths before. The former chief of Italy's McDonald's chain, Mario Resca, now supervises that country's chain of illustrious museums.

Comments

[medusa08]

What a dark day.

[poppahymen]

Serves then right for messing up the Sphinx

[kenudy]

So very sad.
Maybe in the next Da Vinci Code movie, they will hide some clues among the greasy big macs.

[globality]

Jose Bove he is our man

[Keima]

And Sarkozy had the nerve to call Pres. Obama 'weak'..

[FilthyHarry]

Oh yes, the outrage is the first impulse. Or maybe not, depends on who you are. But for those who are, let it go. This is who we are. Why should we pretend its not? The way I see it, change will come faster the more we revel in the horror of what we've become.

Lets not fight these expressions of the depths to which we've sunk! Don't give mediocrity the chance to continue to thrive merely because its flying in under the radar. Lets encourage them to expose themselves for all they are. By letting them come out into the open like this (I know, they're not out in the open now?) by letting them slap us all in our collective faces (I know, they're not slapping us in the faces now?) we force the issue, and by which we can resolve this once and for all. Are we people or are we consumers?

[Gabrielle]

quelle connerie!

[machivellianX]

ok, that's it, we need to get the pitchforks and molotov cocktails out for this travesty!! actually they can square things away if the open up a motel 6 and an ihop inside the museum itself....­.

[wesinohio]

They serve better food in France.

[AmandaBC]

McDonald's is typically for tourists.

[Gabrielle]

D.umb ones

[wesinohio]

Hi Amanda. I have to admit that on my way home from a very long motorcycle trip through Mexico in 1976 I stopped at a Pizza Hut in Nuevo Laredo. It was interesting pizza. I do prefer to go to single-location places, or to places that might have a couple or three locations. They are more genuine and more linked to people - not to the policies and procedures of a mega-corp.
I run a translation agency - where I make most of my money - but also have a side job at Lowe's in the paint department that pays for my and my son's health insurance, my child support and gives me a 401K plan too. A customer the other day came in who runs a restaurant called "Old Carolina Barbecue". He is a young man and they're opening their third location. I can't wait to try it out. Another customer bought paint for his new Irish pub he's opening in Akron. We got along well and I look forward to trying some of their beer and food.
I have heard though that McDonald's attracts some natives in it various locations. That's probably just curiosity about the American Icon. They don't serve very good food, good cuisine or good times. Anyway, I like your picture. You look smart and sweet. I always appreciate your comments.

[Diaschisis]

this is just the begining. "Après moi, le déluge".

[Imago]

"France is McDonald's top market outside the United States."

Now that's just plain depressing.

[AmandaBC]

I've seen McDonald's all over Europe, but almost always near tourist spots. I doubt it's a favourite among the locals...

[CrittersRTasty]

If you're only seeing them near tourists spots then you're not paying attention.

[ebbelwoi]

Are you serious?

[CrittersRTasty]

Wow, I cant wait till my life is so squared-away that I have time to worry about a McDonalds in the food court of the Louvre.

[PoliticalRockChick]

In a few weeks the French will be on the street protesting.

[satanlite]

omg it is the end times.

[Tom95134]

It'll be a real challenge keeping that grease from the french friers off the exhibits and the inside of the pyramid.

I thought it was pushing the limits when in Paris in the 1970s I found a McDonald's tucked away at the back of an aisle that opened on the Champs-Élysées. The Louvre will never be the same.