The locals’ first impressions following the opening of McDonald’s

After a four-year hiatus, McDonald’s has reopened in Mykolaiv. From early morning, dozens of locals gathered outside the restaurant to await the opening, with some having been there since 5:00 am. Journalists from NikVesti spoke to visitors and asked for their first impressions.

Mykolaiv residents admit they have been waiting for the restaurant to return since the start of the full-scale war. For many, it is not just about the food, but also about the feeling of returning to normal life.

«I’ve been waiting for a very long time since it closed at the start of the full-scale war. And it’s not just me — my friends and my husband have been waiting too. I’ve come here and I’m eagerly waiting, because I don’t want to travel all the way to Odesa. Although I used to go there and bring food back for my husband, it’s still not the same. I want everything to be close to home. And I really can’t wait to go inside, sit there and finally try that delicious burger or cheeseburger. We’re waiting, really waiting,» shared Kateryna.

A McDonald’s has opened in Mykolaiv after a four-year hiatus. Photo: Anna Hakman / NikVesti

Other visitors share similar feelings, even though over the years they’ve found alternatives in other cities.

«I’ve been waiting, waiting for a very long time, all these four years. Of course, we sometimes went to Odesa and popped into McDonald’s, but it’s just not the same. I want my own, my home-grown Mykolaiv McDonald’s,» said Yana.

«I missed it terribly. Yes, I think everyone went to Odessa to eat at McDonald’s. But, of course, you want it to be nearby, because it’s a place where you can eat well and know for sure that the food will be good quality and affordable,» shared Anastasiia.

A McDonald’s has opened in Mykolaiv after a four-year hiatus. Photo: Anna Hakman / NikVesti

A McDonald’s has opened in Mykolaiv after a four-year hiatus. Photo: Anna Hakman / NikVesti

A McDonald’s has opened in Mykolaiv after a four-year hiatus. Photo: Anna Hakman / NikVesti

Some locals admit that they managed to get into the restaurant without a long wait, even though the queues were substantial.

«To be honest, I arrived quite late and, you could say, just slipped in. I heard that some people had been waiting since 5:00 am. I arrived at about 11:25, just as they opened, so I went straight in. I stood by the terminal and simply didn’t know what to choose. The atmosphere was a bit stressful — people around were looking at me, as if urging me on: «Come on, choose something and pay up.» But I was flustered, so I just grabbed the first thing I saw,» replied Anastasiia.

A McDonald’s has opened in Mykolaiv after a four-year hiatus. Photo: Anna Hakman / NikVesti

A McDonald’s has opened in Mykolaiv after a four-year hiatus. Photo: Anna Hakman / NikVesti

A McDonald’s has opened in Mykolaiv after a four-year hiatus. Photo: Anna Hakman / NikVesti

For some visitors, this is their first visit to the restaurant in several years.

«It’s been ages, to be honest. To give you an idea: the last time I was inside was before Covid. Then there were all those certificates, and they only let you in if you had them, but I didn’t have any, so I had to just get takeaway,» said Ruslan.

«Is the food good today?» asked a journalist from NikVesti.

«Very much so. Of course, you can get burgers in shops or supermarkets, but it’s not the same. McDonald’s is McDonald’s — you can’t replace that taste with anything,» replied Ruslan.

A McDonald’s has opened in Mykolaiv after a four-year hiatus. Photo: Anna Hakman / NikVesti

It should be noted that the restaurant is open daily: the dining area from 7:00 to 23:00, and the ‘McDrive’ from 5:00 to 23:30. Mobile ordering via the app is also available to customers. The restaurant has created over 100 jobs. However, in the first few weeks, the restaurant will operate with a limited menu — no breakfasts — and delivery will become available later.

McDonald’s emphasises that during an air raid alert, the restaurant temporarily suspends operations so that visitors and staff can move to a shelter. The restaurant in Mykolaiv has become the 125th outlet in the chain operating in Ukraine.

It is worth noting that they were in no hurry to open the doors to the public, as officials were visiting for a tour. Mayor Oleksandr Sienkevych, Head of the Mykolaiv Regional State Administration Vitalii Kim, MPs and officials were spotted. They were shown how the kitchen operates and the food preparation processes. By 11.30 am, the doors were opened to the public and people began to rush inside.

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It should be noted that the McDonald’s fast-food restaurant in Mykolaiv closed at the start of the full-scale invasion.

Closure of McDonald’s in Mykolaiv

It should be recalled that the McDonald’s fast-food restaurant closed in Mykolaiv at the start of the full-scale invasion.

In April 2023, the mayor of Mykolaiv had already announced that a McDonald’s was set to open in the city in the near future. Also, at the end of 2023, McDonald’s staff in Mykolaiv began refurbishing the restaurant premises and the surrounding area.

It later emerged that McDonald’s could not open in Mykolaiv due to a lack of safe drinking water. However, Mykolaiv’s mayor, Oleksandr Sienkevych, promised to negotiate with the management.

In the summer of 2024, the land commission of the Mykolaiv City Council voted to extend the lease term for land plots for the company «McDonald’s Ukraine Ltd».