Did hell freeze over? Did pigs start to fly? Is McDonalds closing a store??

Well I have heard some incredible things, but this one I just can’t believe. Apparently the McDonalds on Hartzel Road in St. Catharines will be closing permanently on March 31st, 2009. I heard this through the grapevine, but couldn’t believe it. I had to drive by (or drive through as the case may be, because the only visible sign is on the drive-through order box). It is true indeed!

I would blame it on the recession, but I don’t think that can be the culprit. We all know that McDonalds thrives during recessions as their relatively low cost food is an affordable option for many low income earners. I think there is something else going on here.

Dare I speculate that McDonalds could be reopening a new modern store at this dated location? Perhaps there is a new store going up down the street where Shopper’s Drug Mart has started a mini renaissance in the area. Either Way- I think something interesting must be going on because I simply cannot ever imagine that a good old Mickee Dees could go broke.

Well, whatever the reason, it is a sad day in St. Catharines. Not only did the CBC recently report us as one of the most depressed Regions of the entire country (which for the record I personally don’t believe), but now we have the infamous distinction of being a city where even a McDonalds can’t make it.

Something better happen around here quickly. We'd better get busy showing signs of life before St. Catharines turns into Ontario's other Windsor. So let’s go NHS with the new hospital, PVDC with the tower, Brock and The City with The Arts Downtown Centre and anyone with a project on the go- let's get those shovels in the ground before it freezes over like hell must’ve the day McDonalds decided to close a set of its doors.