The first ever Mcdonald?s family restaurant opened in Cobham Court, Porirua on June 6, 1976. As fashions and customer habits changed the building, with its lack of car park and drive through facilities, became less viable.
By Chrys Ayley
It was a soft opening of the new McDonald?s family restaurant on Keneperu Drive last Saturday but a positive and significant boost for the local economy. Owner Trevor Campbell, Porirua born and bred, said the investment package totalled $6 million and he was totally confident in his latest investment. The good news is that forty more people have been employed, that is 20 full time equivalents, to cater for increased demand and cover the operation 24 hours a day. The fast food outlet is doing very well in these difficult economic conditions, he said. The new restaurant, in its prime location at Keneperu Drive, is open 24 hours a day, has the pre-requisite drive through, a large car park and all the other facilities that go with a new fast food outlet. ?The drive through will be cranking,? Mr Campbell said. The first ever Mcdonald?s family restaurant opened in Cobham Court, Porirua on June 6, 1976. As fashions and customer habits changed the building, with its lack of car park and drive through facilities, became less viable. Mr Campbell owned the old Porirua store for 19 years and has almost 30 years service with the company. He said the old Cobham Court building will be put up for sale very soon. Staff attended a blessing on Friday May 1, the day before the official soft opening. Many customers may remember the display cases in the old store which held collections of McDonald?s memorabilia and marketing collectibles which disappeared when the store was last refurbished. There is a growing market for and interest in the collectibles and Mr Campbell said the collection had gone to the Te Papa archives and the Museum of Wellington. Wellington Museum marketing and experience manager Kim Young said an old McDonald?s shirt and an original menu from the old Porirua store are on permanent display at the ?telling tales? exhibition. Recently students from the New Zealand Film and TV School had used the 1976 McDonald?s story and exhibits in a documentary film.
