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McDonald's Customers Noticed an Alarming Change At Certain Locations

Just after McDonald's customers noticed a 30-minute time limit on dine-in visits, the franchise seems to have rid the option of eating in at certain locations completely. Fans pointed out a downtown Seattle restaurant whose dining area has been "completely blocked off" to customers. In a recent Reddit thread, one user noted that this McDonald's dining room, located on Third Avenue, has been made "inaccessible for guests." Apparently, this change occurred a few years ago, with customers noting that the location is not necessarily in a safe area."That's the sketchiest corner in the entire Seattle Metropolitan Area," one customer wrote. Another social media user agreed, writing, "It's a safety thing. Locations with a violence and/or drug problem. The handful of people who go in there to cause problems, ruin it for everyone." A second Reddit thread user who worked at the location for four years described it as a "cultural hub," and "amazing," but not without its pitfalls. "I was fascinated by this location," the former employee wrote. "Every day I was learning how to calm the chaos." McDonald's had originally rid itself of dining rooms in mid-March 2020 amid the COVID-19 guidelines, National Restaurant News reported. By 2022, dining rooms had largely re-opened, but certain locations, like Seattle's, are just order-by-window restaurants due to possible staffing shortages, safety concerns, and overall efficiency. With the franchise being independently owned, available dining rooms are up to the discretion of the location owner. "That's probably the corporate dream," one customer said. "The remodels already have few employees and drinks behind the counter." RELATED: Or maybe dine-in eating is silently getting phased out completely. According to long-time McDonald's goers, there have been many unwanted changes occurring, including disappearing self-serve drink machines, no napkin dispensers, and fewer tables. "I used to spend the morning in McDonald's before work with friends and family," one commenter wrote. "The staff was super cool, too. They'd come over just to chat with us. We're talking like five years ago here. COVID-19 really did change everything."McDonald's Customers Noticed an Alarming Change At Certain Locations first appeared on Men's Journal on Jul 7, 2025