With the closing of the Downtown Pittsburgh McDonald’s, the Globe staff has elected to share some of our favorite memories and our feelings on the closing.

Jake Dabkowski, Editor-In-Chief

My all-time favorite memory of the Downtown McDonald’s is the morning after the 2020 election. At the time Globe Editor-In-Chief Jordyn Hronec, co-News Editor Nardos Haile, and I had stayed up all night to have the most accurate information as possible included in our print edition. 

It had been a long night, and it had been incredibly stressful. I was also starving. As the sun rose on the city of Pittsburgh, the three of us embarked on a heroic journey to McDonald’s. For breakfast, I had an order of hotcakes and a hashbrown. I absolutely devoured it. The best meal of my entire life.

My second favorite memory of the McDonald’s is that one time while I was waiting for my food someone started smoking a joint inside the restaurant. The staff did not throw the person out.

Kylie Thomas, Co-Features and A&E Editor

Ever since I got to Point Park, I’ve referred to that McDonald’s as the “stabby” McDonald’s since stabbings would often happen there. However, despite the name, it’s my favorite place to go Downtown. 

Whether I have $3 in my pocket or $20, I’m able to get food in a food desert filled with expensive restaurants. I remember the rare warm sunny days in Pittsburgh when I’d walk to The Point with friends and get McDonald’s on the way back. I remember after my studio photography class I’d go get kids meals just to get the toy. I’m really going to miss having that comfort place, even if it was the “stabby” McDonald’s.

Ana Bellamy, Staff Writer

After a depressing and stress-filled week, I gathered enough cash and change from my house in order to give myself a special lunch for the day. After accidentally skipping breakfast and a few morning classes, I had excitingly secured my Happy Meal inside the highly coveted McBoo bucket. 

I felt like a little kid again and I smiled for, what felt like, the first time in a while. The bucket served as a beacon of light for a short time and brought me much-needed happiness. I would have never expected that McDonald’s would provide me with hope, but it did, and I will miss getting my Happy Meals.

Kayla Sterner, Co-Sports Editor

Closing this McDonald’s is a slap in the face to broke college kids, especially when Point Park just took away our work study money. I know the golden arches don’t offer much in terms of nutritional value, but where else am I supposed to go to get a meal when I only have six dollars? And where else am I supposed to get an orange Hi-C when I need a taste of nostalgia? Rest in peace, downtown McDonald’s. Gone too soon, but forever in our hearts. 

Erin Yudt, Editor-Elect

While I have been to this location only a handful of times, I am truly sad to see the McDonald’s close. My favorite memory was going to get a caramel frappe and chicken nuggets during my freshman orientation week after my PA just told me that he almost witnessed a shooting at the location his freshman year. The location was forever known to me as the Murder McDonald’s from there on out. It was one of my first excursions without an “adult” in the city, and I felt invincible coming back to campus in one piece. I ate my food with about five random people from my floor that I had just met. Good times. Rest in peace the Murder McDonald’s. You Truly will be missed. 

Cassandra Harris, News Editor

I’ve always avoided the McDonald’s Downtown. My Pitt friends have always referred to it as the “goophead” McDonald’s or the murder McDonald’s. It was just a few weeks ago that I had the opportunity to visit it for the first time. 

I didn’t order anything, I was forced to walk there because my COPA friend had woken up early enough for the first time in months to purchase the breakfast menu. Maybe I’m not that cultured, but I have never been inside of an establishment that has given me the same vibes as the back rooms or a shady basement like this did. While I may have never shared a meal at this McDonald’s, it’s a shame that I won’t ever have the opportunity in the future.