Fast Food Giant Makes Market Return
McDonald's appears poised to make a highly anticipated return to Ottawa's historic ByWard Market neighborhood, with active preparations underway for a new location at the intersection of Rideau and Dalhousie streets. This development comes just two years after the chain closed its controversial 99 Rideau Street restaurant in 2023, marking a significant moment for the area's dining landscape.
From Notorious Past to Fresh Start
The previous McDonald's location at 99 Rideau Street gained international notoriety as the "World's Worst McDonald's" through numerous viral online videos showcasing regular late-night disturbances, physical altercations, and public disputes. However, the location became truly infamous when a customer's video captured a man pulling a small raccoon from beneath his coat during one of the chaotic scenes, creating an internet sensation that defined the restaurant's troubled reputation.
The raccoon incident, widely distributed across social media platforms, became symbolic of the location's challenges and contributed to its eventual closure. The new restaurant site sits just down the block from this former problematic location, suggesting McDonald's strategy to maintain presence in the area while starting fresh with a different physical space.
Expansion Plans Confirmed for Ottawa
While McDonald's Canada has not made an official announcement about the specific ByWard Market reopening, evidence points strongly toward imminent operations. Job postings for the Rideau and Dalhousie location have been circulating for several weeks, indicating advanced preparation stages for staffing the new outlet.
Adding credibility to the Market return speculation, McDonald's Canada president and CEO Michele Boudria recently confirmed the company's aggressive expansion plans for the Ottawa region. During a meeting with Mayor Mark Sutcliffe, Boudria—who began her career as a crew member at an Aylmer McDonald's location—revealed that five new Ottawa restaurants could open within the next year.
Although Boudria didn't identify specific addresses during her discussion with the mayor, she explicitly stated that a ByWard Market location remained under consideration when circumstances aligned properly. "We are absolutely investing in Ottawa," Boudria emphasized, signaling strong corporate confidence in the local market despite previous challenges.
The return to the ByWard Market represents more than just another fast-food opening—it marks McDonald's attempt to rewrite its narrative in a neighborhood that witnessed both the chain's struggles and resilience. With new leadership under Canadian-born Boudria and strategic location selection, the company appears determined to succeed where previous efforts faced significant public relations challenges.
