ADVERTISEMENT

McDonald's suburban hometown is worried because the company is abandoning them for Chicago

McDonald's is moving its Oak Brook, Illinois headquarters downtown. Some employees and residents worry how it will affect the suburb.

Several people hustle past a new McDonald's McCafe coffee shop May 1, 2001 in Chicago, the first McCafe located in the United States.

In 1971, McDonald's settled its global headquarters in Oak Brook, a Chicago suburb with fewer than 8,000 people. Over time, Oak Brook's identity became closely linked with the fast food chain, which brought jobs, resources, and infrastructure to the town.

ADVERTISEMENT

But in 2016, the company announced that it would move to downtown Chicago. A

The relocation worries a number of employees and residents who rely on the company for their income, according to a new report from the Washington Post's Jonathan O'Connell.

McDonald's relocation could have an economic impact on Oak Brook, as evidenced by other large companies that have left the suburbs for the city.

ADVERTISEMENT

A number of ExxonMobil employees in Fairfax County, Virginia reportedly lost jobs, after the oil company moved its Mobil Gas headquarters to Houston in 2015. In May 2017, GE broke ground on its new corporate headquarters in Boston, after it abandoned suburban Fairfield, Connecticut (its home of 42 years) due to disputes about the state's corporate tax policy.

McDonald's may not be chasing lower employee wages or property taxes — cities tend to have higher minimum wages than suburbs. Instead, it's probably looking for workers who are more tech-savvy, because these people tend to want to work in cities, according to the Post. It will join a number of other suburban companies that have moved to cities, from

FOLLOW BUSINESS INSIDER AFRICA

Unblock notifications in browser settings.
ADVERTISEMENT

Recommended articles

Nigeria's central bank increases minimum capital base for banks

Nigeria's central bank increases minimum capital base for banks

Sony’s creators convention redefines the creative landscape for content creators

Sony’s creators convention redefines the creative landscape for content creators

Egypt, Nigeria, and South Africa ranked as Africa's most polluted countries in new report

Egypt, Nigeria, and South Africa ranked as Africa's most polluted countries in new report

10 African countries with the lowest life expectancy according to the World Bank

10 African countries with the lowest life expectancy according to the World Bank

Kenyan women are more obese than their men - here’s why

Kenyan women are more obese than their men - here’s why

Africa’s richest man Dangote stands between Europe and $17 billion in revenue

Africa’s richest man Dangote stands between Europe and $17 billion in revenue

After months of exchanging blows, Kenya and Uganda takes steps towards resolution

After months of exchanging blows, Kenya and Uganda takes steps towards resolution

Africa's first black billionaire could join $2.9 billion Vivendi bid for MultiChoice

Africa's first black billionaire could join $2.9 billion Vivendi bid for MultiChoice

10 most dangerous African countries in 2024

10 most dangerous African countries in 2024

ADVERTISEMENT