McDonald’s welcomes dine-in customers

McDonald’s area supervisor for Guam and CNMI Joe Ayuyu Jr., shows changes made in the restaurant to create a safe dine-in environment that is safe for both customers and McDonald’s employees. (Bea Cabrer)

Starting Wednesday this week, McDonald’s on Middle Road opened its doors for dine-in customers after it was closed for almost three months due to government guidelines on COVID-19 health and safety concerns. McDonald’s area supervisor for Guam and CNMI Joe Ayuyu Jr., assures the public that they have created a safe dine-in environment that is safe for both customers and McDonald’s employees.

“We learned that there was a lot to learn and now we are prepared after constant review and study of guidelines we received from the local mandates, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, McDonald’s corporate, and from the national and federal levels…We tried to put all those together integrating some of our best ideas and implemented it,” he said.

“We have trained and coached our staff with the opening of dine \-in operations and we feel that we are comfortable and ready… As we clean the tables, chairs, and surroundings frequently, we have signages on tables to inform areas that been disinfected and not …We want our customers to come back and enjoy the dine-in experience that many people really missed,” he added.

Customers should expect to see rules and follow them once they enter McDonald’s whether for dine-in and take-out. These are simple guidelines that will make the McDonald’s “customer journey” highly satisfactory.

First, customers are asked to wear masks all the time (except when eating and drinking), follow footstep decals that will lead you to the counter that has “guard shields” to protect customers and employees, more decals are visible so customers will know where to go for dine-in or take-out, where to wait for orders to promote and maintain social distancing. Second, sanitize hands from sanitizers available upon entry. Third, more arrows will guide dine-in customers to the dining area. Only seven people with a party of four maximum for groups.

“The building code allows 93 people to be in the store and according to local mandate, restaurants can accommodate 25% of that as of now. We can have 23 people at the same time and including employees, we can accept six to seven dine-in customers at a time… As we improve and look forward to reaching Code Blue, we can accommodate more customers and we are getting ready for that,” Ayuyu Jr. said.

“To control the dine-in capacity, we have signs that says we have reached maximum capacity… The dine-in in Garapan will open later in the month… kiddie parties will be open in the future maybe when we are allowed to accommodate 50% or 100% dine-in customers,” Ayuyu Jr. added.

For their part, owner/operator for McDonald’s Saipan Marcia Ayuyu, said that their employees’ safety is also a priority. In fact, all of McDonald’s employees have undergone COVID-19 testing as part of their heath protocol at the restaurant.

“McDonald’s prioritizes the safety of its employees through daily temperature screening before every shift, frequent handwashing, and the use of gloves and masks all the time,” she said.

McDonald’s general manager Jocelyn Asistores said that opening their dine-in operations will help bring families together and enjoy their favorite meals at McDonald’s.

Although launched in 2016, Ayuyu Jr. said that the past three months has made their McDonald’s ‘”Mobile, Order and Pay” app a popular tool for people to skip the line and get their favorite McDonald’s items. “We are happy to be in the forefront of the industry apps and technology because through MOP, customers can avail of this whether it is for take-out, drive-thru, dine-in, or curb side… After downloading the app, register information, and when you place the order, make sure you are using the same phone you used to order and when you come to the store to pick it up.”

“Once you’re in the 100-yard ‘geofence’ from our router, we pick up your signal then it shoots into our system. That is the only time we can start making your food as we don’t make your order while you are still up north or anywhere and 15 minutes away because we want to serve your food fresh and preserve the quality,” he added.

Ayuyu Jr. said that he is anxious and excited at the same time helping McDonald’s resume back to its normal operations. “We are trying to do whatever is right for us and the customers, to make it safe and sanitized environment…the economy needs to open up because it is going to be hard for many people if we don’t but we need to get there the right way.”

McDonald’s Middle Road is open from 6:30am to 9pm (both dine-in and drive-thru) everyday, while McDonald’s Mobile, Order & Pay is open from 7am to 8pm every day.