Glebe residents fighting plans to have a McDonald’s cafe in their suburb

GLEBE residents are fighting against McDonald’s scoring a presence in the suburb with an online petition aimed at stopping a pop-up cafe opening at the iconic Valhalla cinema site.

The old Valhalla cinema complex, pictured in 2008, the year a DA for a coffee shop went before council. Picture: Phil Rogers

GLEBE residents are fighting plans by McDonald’s to have a presence in the suburb.

A Facebook page and online petition was launched this month to stop the fast food juggernaut from opening on Glebe Point Rd.

The petition has so far clocked up more than 500 signatures.

It is understood McDonald’s will open a pop-up cafe in the former Valhalla cinema complex but the company could not be reached for comment.

Residents have been posting progress pictures of work on the cafe on Facebook and speculating about the opening date, which is said to be this Friday.

Another photo of a letter distributed to residents carrying a McDonald’s logo was also posted on the “McDonald’s not on our corner — Glebe” Facebook page.

There are no smiles among Glebe residents over McDonald’s plans for a pop-up cafe.

The letter said the cafe would only be for three days, it would not be a traditional McDonald’s cafe and there were no permanent plans for a store in the suburb.

There are concerns the cafe could impact on existing Glebe businesses and residents met on Monday night to discuss the matter.

Amanda Tattersall, who is behind the Facebook page, said she was sceptical McDonald’s would only open for three days.

“We’re a bit suspicious of their intentions,” she said.

McDonald’s opened the one-of-a-kind The Corner by McCafe in Camperdown in late 2014, offering salads, soups and rice boxes.

There is no golden arches in sight at that site.

A McDonalds cafe called The Corner on Missenden Rd in Camperdown. Picture: Toby Zerna