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McDonald's burgers are not welcome in Florence's Piazza del Duomo

Saturday, November 12th 2016 - 21:01 UTC
Full article 6 comments
The fast-food giant had its plans for an outlet on the Piazza del Duomo rejected by Florence's mayor in June and the decision was upheld in July by a technical panel The fast-food giant had its plans for an outlet on the Piazza del Duomo rejected by Florence's mayor in June and the decision was upheld in July by a technical panel
The chain is claiming it has been discriminated against, and wants to recoup the €17.8m it estimates it will lose over the next 18 years The chain is claiming it has been discriminated against, and wants to recoup the €17.8m it estimates it will lose over the next 18 years
Florence's mayor Dario Nardella says they were not prejudiced in rejecting the bid,  “because this is permitted under the law, but we also have the right to say no.” Florence's mayor Dario Nardella says they were not prejudiced in rejecting the bid, “because this is permitted under the law, but we also have the right to say no.”

McDonald's is suing the city of Florence for €18m after it was blocked from opening a restaurant on one of the Italian city's most historic plazas. The fast-food giant had its plans for an outlet on the Piazza del Duomo rejected by Florence's mayor in June and the decision was upheld in July by a technical panel in charge of preserving the city's ancient heart.

 But McDonald's, which modified its proposals to fit with city guidelines, has now launched a bid for damages.

The chain is claiming it has been discriminated against, and wants to recoup the €17.8m it estimates it will lose over the next 18 years, according to Italian newspaper Firenze Today.

It argues it put forward a plan to “operate respectfully towards the local policies, even accepting to introduce typical local products in our offer, as requested from the local commerce regulation”.

“We completely agree that the cultural and artistic heritage and the Italian historical town centers have to be protected and guaranteed, as well as the traditions and the historical small shops, but we cannot accept discriminatory regulations that damage the freedom of private initiative without being advantageous to anyone” McDonald's said in a statement.

But Florence's mayor Dario Nardella says they were not prejudiced in rejecting the bid to open a branch on the piazza, famous for its Gothic and Renaissance architecture. He told the city council earlier this year: “McDonald's has the right to submit an application, because this is permitted under the law, but we also have the right to say no.”

This is the second high profile spat over an Italian location this year for McDonalds. Last month it was reported that cardinals at the Vatican had been angered by plans to open a branch in a piazza next to Saint Peter's Square.

Top Comments

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  • Captain Poppy

    Good keep their asses out!!!.

    Nov 13th, 2016 - 02:21 pm 0
  • ElaineB

    Last time I was at La Scala Opera House in Milan it was not on the Piazza del Duomo but on the Piazza della Scala. I am in Milan at least once a year and I am certain they didn't move it.

    I am also very certain Milan isn't in Florence; the subject of this article.

    Nov 16th, 2016 - 04:23 pm 0
  • ElaineB

    @ ChrisR (Alf Garnet)

    In what way am I wrong? I know Milan well and anyone could look at a city map and see that you are wrong about the location of the La Scala Opera House. You didn't answer about La Scala, dId you go or did you just look at the outside like most tourists on a weekend break?

    I don't know anyone called 'Tits' or “Tit's”.

    Nov 17th, 2016 - 12:44 pm 0
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