The first McDonald’s in Latin America in a deprived neighborhood

The residents of the Padre Mugica District, formerly known as Villa 31, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, have a special reason to celebrate. In a historic event, Arcos Dorados will inaugurate the first McDonald’s in Latin America within an area undergoing urbanization.

The project will bring real change to this settlement and is a great opportunity for its youth, who will have the opportunity to get their first jobs and develop all of their skills.

Yermina Benitez, who already works at McDonald’s and is a resident of the Padre Mugica District, discussed the importance of this new restaurant there: “I would sum it up in one word: OPPORTUNITY. It will be an opportunity for many kids who may not be able to leave the neighborhood in search of employment (either because of their age, their lack of experience or even in some cases because of their home address), to get their first job,” said Yermina.

The restaurant will have two floors and will be equipped with the most innovative technology; games and tablets for the younger kids and self-service digital kiosks to improve the customer experience. Children, teenagers and families will be invited to try and participate in activities related to programming, robotics, 3D printing, music, audiovisual production, science, design, games and creativity. It will be an open center for recreation and learning for the community, which will motivate new skills and generate interest in jobs of the future. During the construction period, activities will also be carried out with the community, including soccer clinics and nutrition workshops.

Yesterday, in a moving ceremony, the city mayor, Horacio Rodríguez Larreta, along with our Chairman Woods Staton, laid the foundation brick of the restaurant.

“Everyone at the Company is very excited about this project, with which we not only want to offer a great experience to the residents of the area who will visit us at our future restaurant, but we also want to make a social contribution through the employment of youth in the neighborhood and its development,” said Woods Staton.

Our CEO, Sergio Alonso, said: “This inauguration is an important message from our Company. McDonald’s is a restaurant for every family.”

The Arcos Dorados team celebrates this great event that makes us proud and once again shows that we are pioneers.

Watch the video of the event.

View the photos of the event.