Calgary McDonald’s tests drive-thru, takeout only model to combat ‘social disorder’

A new McDonald’s location under Calgary’s 4th Avenue Flyover is breaking from tradition, offering service exclusively through its drive-thru and takeout counters.

The decision, rooted in crime prevention strategies, could signal the start of a new fast-food trend in the city. The site previously housed a Starbucks that closed amid concerns over social disorder.

Now, McDonald’s is taking a different approach, applying principles of “target hardening” and “crime prevention through environmental design” to reduce incidents inside the restaurant.

Criminology professor Doug King of Mount Royal University believes the move reflects broader urban challenges.

“There are pockets within any community, Calgary included, that tend to congregate disadvantaged individuals who are substance disordered or homeless,” King said. “I think that’s what they’re trying to avoid.”

The Bridgeland-Riverside Community Association initially expressed hesitation about a fast-food restaurant opening at the site. Association president Alex MacWilliam acknowledged the area’s history of social disorder but said the drive-thru-only model eased some concerns.

“It is an area that has had its fair share of social disorder, so there were concerns expressed in the community when people learned there was going to be a McDonald’s going in there,” MacWilliam said. “But people were excited to learn of a drive-thru only option. It keeps traffic flowing along Edmonton Trail and Memorial Drive.”

Still, traffic congestion remains a worry.

“There are concerns about a drive-thru impact on traffic, so that’s another potential issue raised by people in the community. We’ll be keeping an eye on that going forward,” MacWilliam added.

Karan, a McDonald’s manager in Saskatchewan, says the closed-door policy makes sense after witnessing disruptive behaviour in his own store.

“We had an incident where someone slapped one of our customers. I had to call security,” he explained. “Families with kids don’t want to deal with that. This idea is actually a good one.”

For now, optimism is tempered with caution. While the community hopes the model will reduce disorder and keep families comfortable, MacWilliam says it’s too early to declare success.

“Talk to me in six months,” he said.