Cronulla McDonald's closed: why?

A spokeswoman has responded four days after the Leader requested details on why McDonald’s at Cronulla had closed suddenly.

‘‘We often assess sites and close restaurants based on factors such as leases ending and relocating sites,’’ she said.

‘‘We are open to investigating other potential sites in the surrounding area.

‘‘There were no OH&S or pest concerns at the Cronulla restaurant.’’

She said 40 employees would be relocated to nearby McDonald’s restaurants nearby.

Checks with Sutherland Shire Council and the NSW Food Authority did not reveal any health problems with the fast food outlet.

Cronulla Chamber of Commerce treasurer Annette Tasker said that during a meeting on Wednesday, March 25, members had discussed the closure and some had assumed ‘‘a cultural change’’ may have been responsible — people were becoming more health conscious.

UPDATE TUESDAY: 

The mystery surrounding the sudden closure of the Cronulla McDonald's restaurant seems to have deepened.

Leasing agent for the property Brett Cooper of Cooper Wilson said he was surprised on Monday when he saw the doors closed and handwritten signs on the door.

He said the explanation was that the leasing arrangement would have seen Maccas end their lease by July - and it would have taken several weeks before that date to ‘‘de-fit’’.

‘‘No negotiation took place to extend the lease,’’ Mr Cooper said.

After his company learned of the departure of McDonald’s, the word spread quickly about the vacant shop and there have been at least 25 queries from potential tenants.

So far, McDonald’s has not responded to questions about the reason for the closure, nor the number of staff who worked there at the time.

A McDonald’s spokeswoman said earlier (see story below) that staff would be employed elsewhere in the area. 

UPDATE 10:38am: A McDonald’s spokeswoman has confirmed that the company had closed the Cronulla restaurant on Sunday night.

‘‘We are open to investigating other potential sites in the surrounding area,’’ the spokeswoman said.

‘‘Employees are being relocated to other McDonald’s restaurants close by.’’ 

The spokeswoman did not respond to questions from the Leader about why the business closed, and how many employees would be affected.

A second request has been put to the fast food chain’s Sydney head office about the reason for the closure and the number of employees at the time of closure and if another store will open in the Cronulla area and when.

What would you like to see happen with the site? 

EARLIER STORY:

A reader sent in the photo above today of the closed McDonald's Cronulla. 

Someone at the fast-food outlet answered the phone but would not comment when the Leader asked if the Cronulla Street shop was open for business. They referred us to McDonald's head office.

The Leader is awaiting comment. 

Sutherland Shire Council introduced a management strategy for litter control at McDonald’s Cronulla in 2000, as a condition of its development consent. 

The policy was subject to regular reviews since the business opened in Cronulla Street in March 2001.

Amendments, such as increasing the number of, and hours of, litter patrols and working with the council’s cleaning services schedule to improve cleanliness of the area, were introduced.

‘‘The McDonald's litter is a significant problem during peak trading periods and managing the litter presents a challenge to McDonald’s, as its staff are otherwise engaged during the peak. McDonalds have to be requested to clear the branded litter from the amphitheatre and stage,’’  a 2004 council report stated.

‘‘McDonald's trades far later into the evening but due to OH&S requirements (council cleaners) will not manage the overflowing refuse bins, after sunset.

‘‘Consequently, council cleansing staff start each morning with a big litter challenge.’’

McDonald's Cronulla was under new management when the 2006 Management Strategy for Litter Control was adopted.

Negotiations continued between McDonald’s management, Cronulla Beach CBD management and the council’s compliance officers. The feedback from Cronulla Beach CBD indicated that litter control had improved.

There was another change to McDonald's store management in 2008.

Do you know more?