A resident of El Paso, Texas, was surprised to find that a local McDonald’s had blocked access to its restrooms during lunchtime and kept them closed well past 2 p.m. Posting under the username Hgwelz on Reddit, the customer shared a photo on r/mildlyinfuriating showing both the men’s and women’s restrooms barricaded by a trash table and a wipes stand. However, Hgwelz appeared to be among the few people frustrated by the controversial bathroom closure, as many commenters voiced support for McDonald’s decision.
Hgwelz noted that this McDonald’s was located near Franklin High School. “But everyone knows the Whataburger is the place for drugs,” he joked, suggesting that he found the McDonald’s bathroom blockade unnecessary. OP also added that the fast-food restaurant was situated in a “higher income area” of the city, and that its parking lot was monitored by surveillance cameras to deter potential troublemakers.
Social Media Reacts
Still, Reddit commenters largely agreed that the closed restrooms at the El Paso McDonald’s were far from excessive. “Stuff like this is absolutely justified,” one user wrote, explaining that a local Dunkin’ Donuts they knew had routinely been “ravaged by middle and high schoolers” on weekdays. “I always felt terrible for the workers,” the commenter added.
“I used to be a custodian at a high school, and I can tell you there’s a very good reason for this,” a second commenter agreed. “I work at a library near a middle school. We don’t close our bathroom, but someone has to monitor it from 2 to 4 p.m. Those kids are monsters,” a third remarked. “Never underestimate students of any age when it comes to destroying or vandalizing a restroom,” a fourth warned.
Based on the overall sentiment in the comments, the El Paso McDonald’s management’s decision to restrict bathroom access during lunchtime was not aimed at inconveniencing customers—it was intended to protect employees’ well-being. As one commenter put it, “People need to consider what drove businesses to enact these policies before bashing the business.”
