Desperately Seeking Ronald

Much of America has been asking, "Where's Ronald McDonald?"

We've found him at the recent Chicago Pride Parade. The question is, if Ronald is appropriate and fun enough for the Pride Parade, why isn't he appropriate and fun enough for a local McDonald's restaurant event?

Skye and Ronald

Restaurant Closure Update

Restaurant closures are back to 2019 levels again - NRN

How to Find the Brokest McDonald's Owner/Operator

How to find the cheapest McDonald's, wherever you are - allrecipes.com

Maze on Restaurant Industry Trends

When times are tough, little things matter - RestBusi

It's Enough to Make a Pajama Boy Nervous

Blue = McDonald's, Orange = Dow Jones Average 

Your Equity or Theirs?

Few of us are interested in real estate in China, but there are two really profound comments on McDonald's real estate here  >>>

McDonald's real estate in China - (comments)

Once upon a time, McDonald's stores were located with the goal of perpetuity. Historically, McDonald's Owner/Operators have assumed that their stores held equity due to McDonald's real estate practices. Under this regime, that's no longer the case. 

 

The Smart People Live in Flyover Country

Oklahomans reject minimum wage increases - Oklahoma Voice

Restaurant Companies No Longer Want to be in the Resaurant Business

YUM to sell Pizza Hut to private equity - QSR mag

You, You're the Yuan

McDonald's Corp. is harvesting its real estate equity in international markets such as Hong Kong. Let's talk about where these millions show up on their income statement.

The following is provided and written by Grok (the AI service by Elon Musk's X).

============================================================

McDonald's Corp. has sold (and continues to sell) several of its retail properties in Hong Kong as part of a broader asset disposal strategy.

Key Details

• Announcement (July 2025): McDonald's planned to sell eight prime retail properties (fully or partially tenanted by its restaurants) valued at around HK$1.2 billion (US$153 million). JLL was appointed as the sole agent for a public tender (closing September 16, 2025). Locations included Tsim Sha Tsui, Causeway Bay, Mong Kok, Kennedy Town, Tai Kok Tsui, Yuen Long, Tsuen Wan, and Tsz Wan Shan.
• McDonald's continues operating the restaurants as tenants under long-term leases, so operations are unaffected. Reports suggested it might divest more of its ~23 owned properties in phases.

Sales Completed So Far (as of mid-2026)

Multiple individual sales have closed, often at strong profits:

• December 2025: A Kowloon property sold for HK$72.4 million (US$9.3 million) — part of the eight-property batch, with total proceeds from four sales reaching ~HK$333 million at that point.
• Yuen Long (three-storey property at Yuen Long Trade Centre): Sold for HK$77.4 million (US$9.9 million) to Acc Investment (originally bought in 1987 for ~US$1.2 million).
• Quarry Bay (Parkvale Place): Sold for HK$110 million to Uni Investment Development.
• Mei Foo Sun Chuen (Mount Sterling Mall): Sold for HK$93.5 million (US$11.9 million).
• Other sales have pushed cumulative proceeds higher (e.g., reports of seven shops disposed of by mid-2026).

This fits McDonald's global strategy of optimizing its real estate portfolio (it has historically owned a large portion of its restaurant locations for rental income and asset value). The Hong Kong sales provide liquidity amid a softer local retail property market while retaining brand presence..

Some Updates on Beef Issues

How screwworms could raise beef prices - The Cattle Site

Will McDonald's be a Family Restaurant Again?

If many Owner/Operators invested in the wrong decor, should PJB pay for changes with corporate capex?

Restaurant chains are turning their attention to families - RestBusi

David Beckham and McDonald's

Shares how McDonald's brings his family together - People

Is PJB Responsible for "Gray and Generic"?

"Over the past decade or so, McDonald’s has renovated its restaurants to make them sleeker and more modern. In the process, it has largely removed playful colors and mascots, sparking criticism that locations felt gray and generic. The company is now looking at “injecting some of the playfulness” back while making layouts airier and more open, according to Jill McDonald, who took over as the company’s chief restaurant experience officer last year."

Wasn't the new decor one of PJB's first initiatives after joining McDonald's?

Customerexperience.com

Vote Until You Get it Right

McDonald's Corporation held its 2026 annual meeting on May 20th. Results of the voting for officers and directors have been published.

McDonald's has 710 million shares outstanding

The typical board member received just under 500 million votes "For" serving until the 2027 board meeting.

There are always votes "against" certain director candidates. Aside from the CEO/Chairman, the average director received 11 million "Against" votes.

The CEO/Chairman received nearly 39 million votes "Against".

Some have speculated that this highly negative vote was a complaint related to the same person serving as CEO and Chairman. Or, it could just be a reaction to the recent performance of McDonald's shares.

Or it could be a reaction to the CEO's oddball behavior on social media and a fear that the CEO is not a serious or stable person.

Source: Edger - SEC.gov

Highlights from Minichart.com

.