2nd Cavalry (Stryker) Regiment spouse Carol Moreno and her 15-month-old son, Matthew have lived at Vilseck’s on-post hotel, the Kristall Inn, since they arrived in Germany May 9. The family says officials told them a house will not be available until after Carol's husband, Sgt. Daniel Moreno, deploys to Iraq in August. (Seth Robson / S&S)
GRAFENWÖHR, Germany — U.S. personnel here may soon have a choice of American hamburger joints, with plans for an off-post McDonald’s restaurant to compete with the on-post Burger King.
Grafenwöhr mayor Helmuth Wächter said Tuesday that McDonald’s representatives recently visited the town scouting for restaurant sites. “They are looking for a location in the area,” he said.
Personnel stationed at Grafenwöhr are excited about the news. Vilseck High School seniors Sean Anderson and Dara Rodgers, both 17, were at Burger King snacking on Anthony’s Pizza on Thursday but both said they’d be regular McDonald’s customers if and when the restaurant opens.
“I’d go there a lot and I’d get fat,” Anderson said, adding that his favorite item on the McDonald’s menu is the 20-piece Chicken McNuggets. “You’ve got to ask for them special,” he said.
An attraction for Grafenwöhr locals at any new McDonald’s might be the ice cream. The Grafenwöhr Burger King does not serve ice cream and the only ice cream at the base is a watery concoction that oozes from a malfunctioning machine at the Camp Normandy dining facility.
Grafenwöhr child-care worker Lisa Deranno said she would also be a regular McDonald’s customer.“I like McDonald’s way better than Burger King,” she said as she snacked on a Burger King hamburger and fries. “I don’t come here (to Burger King) very often but this is the only thing nearby,” she said.
Right now the closest McDonald’s is more than 12 miles away in Weiden, but Deranno said McDonald’s is her No. 1 choice for off-post fast food.
“German McDonald’s is a little different than American McDonald’s but it pretty much tastes the same,” she said, adding that her favorite menu items are the McChicken sandwich, the Royal (cheeseburger) and French fries.
McDonald’s public affairs staff did not respond to Stars and Stripes’ e-mails about the new restaurant.
