The McFarthest Place

[IanS_Liv]

Has anyone seen this incredible map?

http://strangemaps.wordpress.com/2009/0 ... t-big-mac/

There are over 13,000 McDonald’s restaurants in the US, or about 1 for every 23,000 Americans. But even market penetration this advanced doesn’t mean that McDonald’s is everywhere. Somewhere in South Dakota is the McFarthest Spot, the place in the US geographically most removed from the nearest McD’s (*). If you started out from this location, a few miles north of State Highway 20 (which runs latitudinally between Highways 73 in the west and 65 in the east), you’d have to drive 145 miles to get your Big Mac (if you could fly, however, it’d be only 107 miles).

It's incredible - a light for each of the McDonald's outlets in the contiguous United States, designed by Stephen Von Worley. This might explain a few things.

[Halfmiler2]

This summer, we drove north from the Black Hills of South Dakota on U.S. Highway 85 - the main north-south route in the western part of the state. After stopping at a Hardees at Belle Forche (the town which happens to be the geographic center of the fifty states), there is not another fast food outlet for the 110 miles to Bowman, ND - I didn't see one there either, but cannot tell you for sure since I did not see the whole town.

Of course, the ironic thing is that western SD has lots of cattle ranches that produce beef, and eastern SD has lots of farms that produce wheat for flour that can be used for hamburger rolls.

[tandfman]

Re: The McFarthest Place

It's incredible - a light for each of the McDonald's outlets in the contiguous United States, designed by Stephen Von Worley. This might explain a few things.

Does it explain how he happens to have that much time on his hands? :-)

[IanS_Liv]

Re: The McFarthest Place

It's incredible - a light for each of the McDonald's outlets in the contiguous United States, designed by Stephen Von Worley. This might explain a few things.

Does it explain how he happens to have that much time on his hands? :-)

That aspect of it hadn't occurred to me, but now that you mention it. Maybe someone paid money for it as a piece of conceptual art? Either way, I think it means there are too many MacD's!

[dj]

Looks like the National Park Service doesn't allow McDonald's on the premises. The give-away was the Shenandoah region, which caught my eye as a hole in the North East and Mid-Atlantic regions.

[gh]

While doing a walking tour of Budapest (on the way to Berlin) our tour guide showed us teh first McDonald's ever in the EastBloc. Dated to about '86 I think she said.

She went there with a friend when she was about 12, couldn't decide what to order, so she called her parents. She was summarily told to quickly turn and run away as fast as she could. Her father was already on the government's watch list, and he was afraid that if they found out his daughter had been spending money at such a decadent spot they'd kill his job.

[Pego]

While doing a walking tour of Budapest (on the way to Berlin) our tour guide showed us teh first McDonald's ever in the EastBloc. Dated to about '86 I think she said.

She went there with a friend when she was about 12, couldn't decide what to order, so she called her parents. She was summarily told to quickly turn and run away as fast as she could. Her father was already on the government's watch list, and he was afraid that if they found out his daughter had been spending money at such a decadent spot they'd kill his job.

Speaking of the western decadence in a communist country.

In the early sixties, some people requested permit to open a high class strip bar in Bratislava's Old Town. Obviously, they also requested permission to recruit dancers for the bar. They did get the permission with a sarcastic comment that our girls, raised in Marxist-Leninist principles would never consider such a job. Within days of posting for the job, they got flooded by thousands of applications :-).

[gm]

I love that Budapest McD's!

[Marlow]

Re: The McFarthest Place

I think it means there are too many MacD's!

Just remember - they wouldn't all be open if someone didn't want them there

[IanS_Liv]

Re: The McFarthest Place

I think it means there are too many MacD's!

Just remember - they wouldn't all be open if someone didn't want them there

Well, that article says there's 1 MacD's for every 23,000 Americans. Now, factor in Burger King, Pizza Hut, KFC, and probably a 100 chains I've never heard of, do you guys ever eat anything but fast food? :wink: :lol: I'm really missing the smileys here by the way.

If it's any consolation, we're currently experiencing the McDonaldisation of the UK at the moment. :?

[Davidokun]

Re: The McFarthest Place

If it's any consolation, we're currently experiencing the McDonaldisation of the UK at the moment.

In what sense is this current? McDonald's has been in the UK since 1974, and had 1,250 outlets there in 2006.

Source: List of countries with McDonald's franchises

[gm]

I seem to remember about a thousand little "fast food" joints in London more than 30 years ago. You may call them kebab shops, or whatever, but it's the same idea. McDonald's has a proven, aggressive marketing plan and a great business sense. Not all their food is crap, and their standards of cleanliness are a major drawing point.

[Conor Dary]

The only time I go to McD is when I am travelling. And for that they are great. Clean Bathrooms! And their hamburgers aren't bad.

PS. I also live about a mile from their headquarters. The campus with Hamburger U. is a rather pretty place.

[lonewolf]

Hmmm???? 13,381 McDs, three meals a day, 365 days/year, If McDs declared a moratorium on new franchises, a feller could eat in every McDs in about 12years and 3 months..
Since I am out of courthouses to photograph that could be my next challenge. If I snuck in a few snacks I could do it before I am ninety.

[rasb]

I spent a few years as a McDonald's employee, many years ago. I went from Manager Trainee to Night Manager to Assistant Manager to Store Manager to possible Area Manager within a couple of years. It was a fine company to work for, the standards of service and cleanliness were very high, and the skills of coaching athletes were very transferrable to keeping a staff of 60 or so young guys/gals fired up, and ready to be the best store in the Area...
Fun times !