Of the 10 McDonald's on the Las Vegas Strip, five were in MGM Resorts International properties, mostly bargain-oriented ones like Circus Circus, Excalibur, and Luxor. Monte Carlo and MGM Grand also had the Golden Arches in their food courts.
According MGM Resorts International spokeswoman Yvette Monet, "Various spaces throughout our resorts that are designed for food and beverage operations frequently become available for bid as tenant leases expire. Spaces at four resorts recently became available for bid as leases with McDonald's expired. The spaces have since been secured by new tenants." According to Monet, McDonald's re-bid on the leases but was outbid by competitors. However, the corporate tie between MGM and Golden Arches hasn't been completely severed: The McDonald’s in Circus Circus remains open for business, although if you're playing at adjacent Slots-A-Fun, you can take a break at the nearby, supersized Viva McDonald's, which is owned by the McDonald's corporation directly and features distinctive modern decor, free WiFi, and multiple TV screens, plus it's open 24/7.
The vanished McDonald's will have a variety of replacements. Luxor's and Monte Carlo's venues are still in the 'to be announced' stage but the area's eighth Johnny Rockets is already slated for MGM Grand and a ninth is rumored for Luxor. Excalibur is promising something called B&B, which will serve comfort food and "alcohol-infused milkshakes" around the clock. According to VegasEater.com, the B&B name could be a source of contention, because Venetian has a restaurant called B&B Burger & Beer -- a joint venture of Mario Batali and Joe Bastianich, who might not look kindly on confusion of brand names.
If you have a hankering elsewhere for McDonald's cuisine, you can also still get it at the Stratosphere, at a site across Las Vegas Boulevard from Monte Carlo, and in the Harmon Corner shopping mall just south of Planet Hollywood, where, spread over two levels, it's a so-called Metro McDonald's, again offering free WiFi as one of its amenities and around-the-clock service as another.
Another two-story McDonald's is wedged in between Harrah's Las Vegas and Casino Royale, and the southernmost McDonald's on the Strip is in Akita Plaza, across from Mandalay Bay. Incidentally, for lovers of Vegas trivia, the Akita location was supposed to be part of a larger development that would incorporate a resurrected Speed: The Ride, salvaged from the old Sahara. (It never happened, as we've covered previously in this column.)
Despite the sudden decimation of McDonald's outlets on the Strip, we’re confident that successors will pop up in other locations. After all, the only constant in Vegas is change. (We called McDonald's numerous times for a comment but received no response.)
