Reminiscing at *SCAPE McDonald’s on closing day

As the sun set on Wednesday (Feb 22), the popular McDonald’s at *SCAPE served its final orders. 

Whether it was a place to grab a quick bite after school or a spot to hang out with friends, the outlet had been a fixture in the lives of many young Singaporeans for more than a decade.

The closure of McDonalds is part of *SCAPE’s renovation plans which will start at the end of February. 

The mall is expected to reopen fully in the first half of 2024 with a revitalised entranceway and a new shared dance space, in addition to a refreshed line-up of retail, entertainment and leisure experiences, said the mall.

In a fitting tribute, *SCAPE and McDonald’s spared no efforts in organising a memorable farewell party to bid the well-loved outlet adieu on its last night of operations. 

As evening arrived, the fast-food restaurant was filled with festive ambiance with the party in full swing. The familiar aroma of fries and burgers mixed with the sounds of laughter and music as party-goers milled about, soaking up their last moments at the soon-to-be-closed store. 

A claw machine was set up conveniently beside the entrance and the excitement was palpable as many queued up for a chance to win McDonald’s merchandise.

A McDonald’s employee looked on fondly as the crowd – which was a mix of young and old – took turns to try their hands at the machine. The atmosphere was electric as cheers of excitement and groans of disappointment filled the air after each attempt. 

Another one of the highlights of the night was the photo booth. The bright lights and colourful props drew in a steady stream of participants, all eager to memorialise the moment forever. 

Meanwhile, the melodic strains of Bruno Mars’ When I Was Your Man were belted out by Aniq Rusyaidi, a local musician who was performing on stage for the party.

Despite the joyous mood, there was a bittersweet undercurrent to the music as the crowd swayed and sang along, bidding farewell to a place that had been a constant in their lives. 

Aniq’s soulful vocals further contributed to the sense of melancholy, as if he was capturing the collective sentiments of the attendees and putting them into song.

The intimate connection that many shared with this McDonald’s became even more apparent as the attendees recalled what they love about the fast-food restaurant.

For Cyprus Teow, a 19-year-old student, the outlet had been a core part of his life ever since he was little.

He said: “I have dance practices at *SCAPE with my friends almost every week, so we usually go to McDonald’s for our dinner when we end. 

“If you look at my photo gallery, I have one whole album labelled *SCAPE with over a thousand photos. Many of them are actually taken at this McDonald’s so I have a lot of emotional attachment to this place.” 

Similarly, Alya Binti Hamzah, 22, described the McDonald’s as a welcoming and comforting space where she experienced many firsts and created a number of enduring memories. 

“I remember the first time I ever tried the McSpicy burger, it was actually here with my friends and it was so spicy to me that I was sweating and my friends were all making fun of me,” she reminisced.

“I think these are the memories that will stick with me, even after this McDonald’s gets demolished.”

For 21-year-old Ruth Chua, who works as a part-time skate instructor at Somerset, *SCAPE is like a second home as she travels there every weekend, frequently eating breakfast at McDonald’s.

“It’s a McDonald’s but, at the same time, it’s not just a McDonald’s because of all the experiences that we associate with this place,” she said. 

Her sentiment was ubiquitous among party-goers, all of whom were connected by their shared adoration for this one particular fast-food outlet. 

As its doors closed for the last time and the lights dimmed, it was clear that *SCAPE McDonald’s had left an indelible mark on the community.