A McDonald’s is set to open in the former home of a Malaga bar that traded for 101 years, sparking local outrage.

The fast food chain is due to open in December at the former El Racimo on Calle Marmoles, in Malaga’s La Trinidad neighbourhood, reports La Opinion de Malaga.

Local resident Maite recalled how she ate at El Racimo every Saturday with her family.

She said the arrival of McDonald’s felt like another change aimed at foreign visitors, while residents had already lost familiar businesses such as Juan Lucas.

‘How disgusting,’ she said, deriding the fast food on offer as ‘rat burgers for the guiris’.

Another declared that ‘Guirilandia is expanding.’

The word ‘Guirilandia’ plays on guiri, Spanish slang for a foreigner, often a tourist.

Another commenter said they couldn’t decide whether they were more horrified, disgusted or saddened by the news, while one called for ‘a proper bar’ instead of another fast food outlet.

Others turned to sarcasm. ‘Great, just what Malaga needs,’ wrote one. Another joked that the site would have been better suited to a Carrefour Express, while a third suggested McDonald’s had only got a look-in because there was no room for a hotel.

Javier called on the Junta de Andalucia to protect and support historic shops and the people who run them.

‘Preserving these businesses is part of our identity,’ he said.

Some residents welcomed the investment. Bernardo said a franchisee willing to invest in La Trinidad could encourage other businesses to follow and help turn Calle Marmoles into one of Malaga’s main shopping streets.

Another commenter predicted that locals would be the chain’s biggest customers and argued that people in the neighbourhood had as much right as anyone to have a McDonald’s nearby.

Elisa, who also lives in La Trinidad, said the neighbourhood had lost its old identity long ago.

She hoped the restaurant would at least bring more people onto Calle Marmoles after dark.

‘At night, it’s dead,’ she said.

Read more Andalucia news at the Spanish Eye.