McDonald's — Restaurant in Charlotte

I drove up to the drive thru after work and it was very much a mote of familiarity floating on a dark, foreboding liminal space where the shadows seemed threateningly surreal. Everything around the McDonalds was dark, shut down, and deserted and there was this loud, very strange, rhythmic tone that was literally injected into the night air. I didn't know what it was but it was obviously broadcasted over loud speakers.

The car in front of me peeled out of there as if getting back into the street was life-dependant. I looked around to see if there was a reason for his hasty retreat onto the road but all I saw aside from the other car behind me was -- nothing; no people, not a soul. All that surrounded is was empty black flattop, the nearby road, a gas station with nobody in or around it, and trees that stayed in the still corners of the lot that casted thick black shadows that I could tell was being monitored by the lady at the takeout window before unlocking the latch to cautiously greet me.

"You had the two ten piece meals with the Doctor Pepper?" She asked while looking over my car toward the emptiness around us.

"Yes, that's correct. What's that weird noise I'm hearing anyway?"

"Oh, that's just to keep people away. It's supposed to keep the homeless and the deranged away." She explained. "Look, uh... I still need to make some fresh fries. Can you pull around front and keep your car as close to the door as possible?" She asked.

"Yeah.." I replied. She shut and locked that window and I pulled around. I sat there listening to those strange ominous sounds with the window cracked and I couldn't help but keep alert. Maybe it was the odd speakers that did their job to make the place feel alien to me; to the McDonalds employee as well, because I saw her checking her surroundings before even opening that door.

She handed the food and the drinks off to me and ran back towards the door as quickly as she could. As luck would have it, the door slid shut on her as she tried to run back in and with no exaggerating, this lady screamed for her life for the other employees to let her in. It was as of the projected shadows of the bushes themselves were coming to get her. It was so ominous that it felt like I was living a horror movie moment...

The other car behind me drove off when this happened. I don't even know if that man got his food. I drove around slowly just to make sure she got in because it for sure felt like something was going on that I didn't know about; perhaps something I didn't want to know about.

Forget Hawkins Indiana. For the Upside-Down, Stranger Things experience, just visit this McDonalds at the witching hour and make sure you have your doors locked.

... The McNuggets were...

Attempted to get a latte’ here however that machine was broken. Settled for an iced latte. On my way to work so assumed my drink was palatable. Sour milk and in morning rush hour. I tried calling, no answer. Sent a complaint through the app. “Would you like to be contacted?” Yes! Was I contacted nope not an email, voice mail, nothing. The irony was Isebt to this Mcdonald’s because the last one apparently lost my order and it took 40 minutes to get my curbside order. Sour milk tops abysmal customer service.

Decided to try this location one more time 11/22/22 Ordered through the app to avoid issues. I was in the second lane, no line. Took orders for the cars in the first lane several time before I said something. Gave them my order code and was told I could come inside for pickup. I actually had to have them repeat it as I thought I didn’t understand. Opted to leave and cancel order. Feel like I dodged a bullet as no food from there is the safer way to live through the day.

Update 07/28/23 Taking advantage of free Frub Hub with Amazon Prime. Unfortunately did not take notice of the location. Ordered 2 gravy biscuits and 1 big breakfast. Received in a sealed by McDonalds bag. Received one gravy biscuit with less gravy than usual. Big breakfast had pancakes sausage and a hash brown. Also included a small iced coffee of some sort that I dumped after getting sour milk at this location before. I really have no idea why they are still in business. Fortunately Grub Hub corrected charge. I wish J could give zero stars. It’s just that bad bad...

So, I pulled into your drive-through today — specifically the right-hand lane of your dual setup — and waited… and waited. No greeting, no “we’ll be right with you,” not even the robotic “please place your order when ready.” Crickets. Meanwhile, the car in the left lane pulls up and boom — instant service. I’m still sitting there, awkwardly talking to the speaker like I’m on a ghosted first date.

After being thoroughly ignored, I said “hello?” Still nothing. So I did what any hungry, slightly confused customer would do — I pulled into the other lane. Suddenly, like magic, someone was there — but not with a warm welcome. Instead, I was met with someone yelling, “If you would’ve just waited, you would’ve heard me say wait!” Except… I did wait. Quietly. Patiently. In full view of a system that apparently only acknowledges parallel dimensions.

Trying to lighten the mood, I said, “I guess I’ve gotta be in this lane to get service,” and attempted to order. “Yeah, can I get a number seven?” Her response? A delightful “You know what? Bye!” and I was dismissed like a contestant who forgot their lines on a reality show.

Look, I know customer service jobs can be stressful — but yelling at customers for trying to order food isn’t a great look. Especially when no one acknowledged me to begin with. Sadly, it seems there’s no easy way to report this or hold anyone accountable, which probably explains why that kind of behavior flies.

Just thought someone, somewhere, should know. Hungry customers deserve fries —...