McDonald’s and Hungry Jack’s close within weeks at Westfield Marion shopping centre
FIRST Hungry Jack’s pulled out, now McDonald’s has shut its doors at Adelaide’s largest shopping centre as well. So, what’s going on?
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ADELAIDE’S largest shopping centre is without either a McDonald’s or Hungry Jack’s restaurant after both chains closed their outlets within weeks of each other.
Westfield Marion’s Hungry Jack’s shut up shop on March 7 and McDonald’s served its final Big Mac on March 31.
Westfield SA regional manager Malcolm Creswell said the closures were “just the normal course of events” at a shopping centre.
“Both their leases have expired and they chose at this stage to leave the centre,” Mr Creswell said.
Hungry Jack’s was in one of the centre’s most prominent shopfronts, next to the second-level carpark, near the cinema.
A sign outside the store says Westfield “can’t wait to reveal who’s coming”, although Mr Creswell would not give details.
Westfield Marion’s Facebook page said the two fast-food chains’ sites would be filled with “exciting new casual dining spots”.
A spokeswoman for Hungry Jack’s would not say why the store closed.
She said all Marion staff were offered positions at other restaurants.
A sign outside the closed Marion shop said it was moving to Brighton Rd, South Brighton, where a new $3.3 million store opened last week.
A spokeswoman for McDonald’s Australia also would not say why its Marion store closed.
Up until a couple of years ago, the fast food giant had two stores at the shopping centre — one in the food court and another on the ground floor, near Woolworths on Sturt Rd.
She said the company was open to looking at other nearby spots for a new restaurant. All employees had been moved to other nearby shops.
Hungry shoppers have questioned the reasons for the closures of both burger stores on Twitter and Westfield Marion’s Facebook page.
Several have posted to Westfield Marion’s Facebook page asking why it has gone.
Hannah Worden said she was “distraught”.
“The only way to remedy this is to bring Zambreros,” Ms Worden said.
Adiós Hungry Jacks! #endofanera #shameonyouwestfield 😢 @ Hungry Jack’s Marion https://t.co/W17dO3obLf
— Jarad McLoughlin (@jazer1985) March 5, 2016
Wow, ten minutes to make two 50¢ cones at @maccas #Marion ? And they wonder why they're going outta business... #McDonalds
— Gregory Opera (@gregoryopera) December 17, 2015
Whens maccas and hjs has shut down in marion....... the only way to remedy this is to bring zambreros 👌👌👌 @Stacey_Deans @wantmychips
— Hannah Worden (@09worhan) April 2, 2016
Westfield Marion is in the midst of a $350 million, five-year redevelopment, which includes a new fresh food precinct and an Aldi supermarket.
With 325 businesses and 133,852 sq m of retail space, Westfield Marion is South Australia’s largest shopping centre and one of the largest in Australia.
What would you like to see if the revamped centre? Leave your comment below.
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