This week, McDonald’s announced that it has concluded a deal to develop its new flagship restaurant in a key location in central Sliema currently, occupied by the De Tigné Complex, which will be home to the largest McDonald’s and McCafe on the Maltese Islands and is set to be opened by end of the year.

The move comes in the light of the fact that it will be closing its restaurant in Republic Street, Valletta today – a direct result of a dispute and a subsequent court ruling handed down in February 2012 that ordered the company to vacate the premises within 90 days.

In a statement, McDonald’s said that every effort had been made to try to find an amicable solution to the dispute, but this had not been possible and it was now left with no alternative but to close the restaurant. The company emphasised that having a restaurant in Valletta is its number one priority.

It confirmed that numerous alternative sites have already been evaluated and negotiations are ongoing. In fact, the company hopes to be in a position to open a new restaurant in Valletta in the near future. It also said that it was proud of the fact that no jobs will be lost as a result of the closure. All the Valletta restaurant staff have, in fact, been offered positions in other McDonald’s restaurant across Malta.