Within 10 minutes of the gathering’s opening, nearly 100 Bostonians flocked to City Hall Plaza for free Egg McMuffins and coffee Friday to take part in McDonald’s All Day Breakfast Pajama Party, which celebrated the restaurant’s new All Day Breakfast menu.
“Now, 24/7, when you roll out of bed, breakfast is available,” said Catherine Allen, executive vice president of SHIFT Communications and a public relations official for the New England branch of McDonald’s. “We wanted to celebrate in a fun way, so we decided to throw a pajama party here in the middle of Boston.”
Although not all of the attendees sported their pajamas, there was free food and games for all. Surrounding a tent shaped like a Happy Meal box were two beds decked out in hamburger print sheets, blow-up couches, corn hole games and decorative carpets.
From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., a line of customers snaked all the way to the street as people anxiously awaited the hot coffee and signature egg sandwiches, courtesy of locally owned McDonald’s restaurants. Employees wearing plaid pajama pants served up the food to the hungry customers.
Christine Hassinger, a junior in the College of Arts and Sciences, said she didn’t know the event was going on until her supervisor at work ran into her office to notify her of the festivities. She and her friends headed to City Hall Plaza as soon as they heard.
“I’m a breakfast person, so it sounded good to me,” Hassinger said.
Allen explained that McDonald’s hopes its new All Day Breakfast will appeal to people who aren’t on typical schedules.
“If you think about the number of people who get off work at noon or [are] going to work at midnight, they want to have breakfast when they want it,” she said.
Allen also noted that students in particular might appreciate the menu change.
“College students want breakfast all day long, whenever they’re waking up,” she said.
The number of students in line for free breakfast seemed to attest to that statement. After picking up their complimentary breakfasts, customers lingered around the couches, chatting over coffee and taking pictures.
Chris Leone, a Boston resident and 2013 graduate of the College of Communication, heard about the event through Twitter and said he brought his girlfriend to the breakfast celebration. The two visit McDonald’s about once a month, but according to Leone, the new menu will make McDonald’s an even more competitive fast food chain.
“I travel to the West Coast a lot and Jack In The Box has breakfast all day,” Leone said. “That’s always been a selling point for me to go there whenever I’m out there, but now it will be less so.”
According to a press release from McDonald’s, customers have been rallying for all day breakfast for a few years now, taking to social media to voice their pleas.
“Since September, @McDonalds responded to tens of thousands of people who had asked for All Day Breakfast on Twitter since 2007, letting customers know their dreams were about to become a reality,” the press release said. “It’s finally time for breakfast on your own terms.”
Christine Blain, senior account executive at SHIFT Communications, said the new menu change is taking place at McDonald’s restaurants nationwide.
“It’s a really big thing for McDonald’s and for the region, so we’re excited to be here celebrating,” she said.
Blaine said the full breakfast menu will not be available all day, but that the more popular items like Egg McMuffins, yogurt parfaits and pancakes will now be available after 10:30 a.m.
Damola Abu, a Boston resident and City Hall employee, said although he appreciates the menu change, he is disappointed that not every breakfast item will be offered all day.
“They limited their menu, so it’s not as exciting,” Abu said.
Abu noted that the menu would not include McGriddles, an item that he passionately praised.
Only half jokingly, he said, “McGriddles will change your life.”
