French capital says 'no' to new McDonald’s

PARIS - France 24

A Ronald McDonald balloon floats down Sixth Avenue during the 87th Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York November 28, 2013. REUTERS photo

The city of Paris on Monday blocked plans for a new McDonald’s restaurant near the historic Rue Montorgueil, following vocal opposition to the fast food giant by local residents and officials.

The pedestrian-only street, located in Paris’ second district, is known among tourists and locals alike for its diverse array of quaint shops, and lively cafés and restaurants. Queen Elizabeth II famously visited Montorgueil in 2004 as part of ceremonies marking 100 years of the "Entente cordiale" between Britain and France.

Hoping to cash in on the street's fame, McDonald’s had put in a request for a building permit on the corner of rue Réaumur and Rue des Petits-Carreaux, which extends into Rue Montorgueil.

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